Matthew Larosiere and John Elik sue DEFCAD, Defense Distributed and others over firearm design documentation and photographs

The complaint

Matthew Larosiere and John Elik v. Cody Rutledge Wilson; DEFCAD, Inc.; Defense Distributed; and DD Foundation LLC, No. 6:26-cv-02173 (M.D. Fla., Orlando Division), is a 68-page complaint filed September 21, 2026, ECF No. 1, with a jury demand. It pleads copyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. § 501 and knowingly providing and distributing false copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. § 1202(a), and Elik also pleads false affiliation and false endorsement under 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(A). The complaint describes Larosiere as a Florida resident and attorney, author, and firearms-industry advocate; Elik as an Illinois mechanical engineer, designer, photographer, and author; Wilson as an Austin, Texas resident who it says directs the three companies; and the companies as Texas, or Texas and Delaware, entities operating in Austin. It says the earlier Middle District cases, Nos. 6:24-cv-01629 and 6:25-cv-02112, were resolved by settlement in April 2026.

The works

Larosiere asserts the SF5 Build Tutorial, registered as TX0009372196, which the Copyright Office public catalog lists as The SF5 3D Printable MP5, and photographs within VA0002381769, VA0002381513, and VA0002449526. Elik asserts photographs within five group registrations: VA0002479454, which the catalog lists as 2021 Gun Images, and VA0002499002, VA0002498997, VA0002499003, and VA0002498998. The catalog lists Larosiere as claimant for TX0009372196 and VA0002381769 and Elik as claimant for VA0002479454.

What it alleges

The complaint alleges that on or about August 22, 2026, after the earlier postings had been removed, the defendants created seven new media postings on DEFCAD.com, downloadable with a paid membership, that reproduced the tutorial and the photographs. It alleges the posting pages identified other account names as the creators while page metadata named DEFCAD as publisher, which the plaintiffs say is false copyright management information. Elik also alleges completed infringements of seven other photographs in removed postings and alleges the defendants operated and presented an account under his professional name without his authorization. Many of the allegations about the companies' relationships and Wilson's role are made on information and belief.

Counts and relief

Counts 1 through 8 plead copyright infringement by Larosiere and by Elik against each defendant. Counts 9 through 16 plead false copyright management information under 17 U.S.C. § 1202(a) against each defendant. Counts 17 through 20 plead false affiliation and false endorsement by Elik under the Lanham Act. The prayer seeks declarations; preliminary and permanent injunctions under 17 U.S.C. §§ 502 and 1203(b) and 15 U.S.C. § 1116(a); actual damages and profits or, where available and elected, statutory damages; impoundment; an accounting; and fees, costs, and interest.

On the docket

On October 16, 2026, DD Foundation LLC moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and, in the alternative, to stay the claims against it pending arbitration in Texas, compel arbitration, transfer the arbitrable claims, or dismiss for failure to state a claim. The plaintiffs filed a time-sensitive motion on October 21 to extend their deadline to respond, and an endorsed order signed by Judge Julie S. Sneed directed DD Foundation to respond by October 28. Summonses for Wilson, DEFCAD, and Defense Distributed were returned unexecuted on October 8, and an October 26 endorsed order denied without prejudice the plaintiffs' motion to serve those three defendants by email because it did not comply with Local Rule 3.01(g). On October 5 the case was transferred to Magistrate Judge Leslie Hoffman Price, and the case number is now 6:26-cv-2173-JSS-LHP. Later entries, through November 2, include a response in opposition to a motion filed October 28 and a motion for leave to file a document, on which the court entered an order on November 2.