ABC IP, LLC et al. v. 2A Ninja LLC et al.
Case Overview
- Case Name: ABC IP, LLC et al. v. 2A Ninja LLC et al.
- Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (Eastern Division)
- Case Number: 4:26-cv-01106-ALM (transferred from 26-cv-00854)
- Filing Date: May 29, 2026
- Plaintiffs: ABC IP, LLC; Rare Breed Triggers, Inc.; and RBTM LLC
- Defendants: 2A Ninja LLC and Ethan Alexander Cook
- Nature of Action: Civil lawsuit alleging willful patent infringement with a demand for a jury trial.
Executive Summary
Plaintiffs ABC IP, LLC (the patent owner), Rare Breed Triggers, Inc. (the exclusive licensee), and RBTM LLC have filed a multi-count lawsuit against Missouri-based firearms retailer 2A Ninja LLC and its corporate principal, Ethan Alexander Cook. The federal complaint alleges that the Defendants are actively marketing, advertising, and selling unauthorized products—specifically the “Disruptor” 3-Position Drop-In Forced Reset Trigger configurations in black and green variants via their digital storefront at www.2aninja.com.
Plaintiffs contend that these products directly infringe upon five utility patents within their intellectual property portfolio protecting “forced reset trigger” (FRT) firearm innovations. Because the Defendants reportedly continued marketing these systems despite documented access to libraries of the relevant legal protections (such as the FRT Legal Library hosted by the manufacturer), the Plaintiffs are accusing them of willful infringement, opening the door for enhanced damages.
The Technology in Dispute
The lawsuit centers on advanced firearm trigger engineering—specifically the mechanical transition from standard semi-automatic mechanisms to patented forced reset trigger (FRT) assemblies:
- Standard Semi-Automatic Trigger: Relies on a traditional disconnector mechanism. When a round is fired, the user must manually release rearward finger pressure on the trigger so the disconnector can hand the hammer back off to the main trigger sear before the firearm can be discharged again.
- Forced Reset Mechanism (The Patented Invention): Eliminates the necessity of traditional disconnector dependency during accelerated sequences. Instead, it utilizes specialized locking bars, cams, or lever systems cycled directly by the firearm’s reciprocating bolt carrier. This mechanically forces the trigger forward into its set reset position during the action cycle, allowing for an accelerated, highly efficient firing sequence without converting the firearm into an automatic weapon.
Breakdown of Infringement Claims
Patent Infringement (Counts I – V)
The complaint asserts that 2A Ninja’s product offerings infringe upon five distinct U.S. Patents owned by ABC IP, LLC:
| Count | Asserted Patent | Technical / Mechanical Focus of Claim |
| Count I | U.S. Patent No. 10,514,223 | Drop-in trigger housing framework containing a hammer-actuated reset and an internal spring-biased locking bar system. |
| Count II | U.S. Patent No. 11,724,003 | Multi-mode selection assembly enabling user switching between standard disconnector operations and locked forced-reset functions. |
| Count III | U.S. Patent No. 12,036,336 | Specialized multi-position safety selector mechanics that physically reposition internal disconnector components out of engagement paths. |
| Count IV | U.S. Patent No. 12,274,807 | Internal receiver box configuration optimizing safety selector cam faces to toggle between standard and forced-reset capabilities. |
| Count V | U.S. Patent No. 12,636,403 | Structural claim focusing on the physical interaction profiles between hammer hooks, trigger members, and safety selectors. |
Remedy & Relief Sought
The Plaintiffs claim severe, ongoing economic and reputational harm due to these unauthorized retail sales and distribution practices. They are requesting that the federal court grant the following relief:
- Injunctions: Both preliminary and permanent injunctions to immediately halt 2A Ninja LLC, Ethan Alexander Cook, and their agents from manufacturing, importing, advertising, or selling the Disruptor triggers or any aftermarket components embodying or infringing the Asserted Patents.
- Damages & Accounting: Full financial compensation for lost profits or reasonable royalties resulting from patent infringement, alongside an accounting of all sales and revenues.
- Punitive Multipliers: Asking the court to treble (triple) the final calculated damages due to the willful nature of the patent infringement.
- Legal Fees: A declaration that this constitutes an “exceptional case” under federal law (35 U.S.C. § 285), requiring the Defendants to pay all of the Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and associated legal expenses.
ABC IP, LLC et al. v. 2A Ninja LLC et al.
