MOSCOW, February 25: Russia has applied at long last to the International Patent Agency based in Switzerland with a request to patent its Kalashnikov AK automatic guns, used by government troops, revolutionaries, terrorists, bandits and hostage-takers alike all over the world.Vladimir Sarofoshin, a spokesman for Izhmash, Russia's famous arms manufacturer, said here that the company expected to get the international patent for Kalashnikovs in the near future. Izhmash started mass production of the Kalashnikov AK, designed by the legendary Mikhail Kalashnikov, 50 years ago. But the former Soviet Union never applied for the patent of Kalashnikovs. The Soviet regime used Kalashnikov AK for geo-political advantage during the Cold War and handed over its design for production to any country opposed to the US and NATO.
As a result, Kalashnikovs were illegally produced in many countries. Officially, Kalashnikovs are produced in 12 countries, according to business newspaper Kommersant daily.
However, nowIzhmash wants the international patent in an attempt to boost its financial resources by earning $ 1 to 6 million annually as licence fee from the international producers of the Kalashnikovs as well as from the Russian arms manufacturers wanting to use the principles of Kalashnikovs in the production of weapons. According to Gen Kalashnikov, today 70 models of AK rifles are produced in the world.
During the last 50 years, 100 million units of AK were produced. The illegal production of AKs in foreign countries has increased to such a level that even their original manufacturer Izhmash finds it impossible to compete with international producers. Russian military experts claim, one could purchase two or three AKs, produced in Asian countries, for the export price (about $ 100) of one Russian-made AK-74.
Last year, Russia received the European patent for Kalashnikovs. But despite the loud claim, the patent is not observed beyond the borders of the CIS countries.Experts believe, even after getting theinternational patent, Russia will face an uphill task in convincing the foreign producers of Kalashnikovs that they have to get a new licence for legally producing them, irrespective of whether earlier they had acquired it or not.
In fact, the amount of earning in terms of licence fee from foreign producers, will depend on how much Russia will be able to convince international manufacturers the necessity of getting the right to use its patent, according to them. The international patent is also expected to restore justice to Mikhail Kalashnikov. Indeed he has, so far, got nothing from his ``creation,'' except the ``general's stars on his shoulder-straps,'' wrote Kommersant daily. After the patent, Kalashnikov will be legally entitled to get some honorarium from the international licences.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
