ATF Letter where ATF announces their reversal of stance regarding the Antithesis
Here's the actual judicial decision from February that would set events in motion for the DOJ Settlement with Franklin
There is no mention of any patent (granted or pending) or specific mechanical adaptation to the Antithesis (there is also no claim from Franklin about any patent pending or granted) that proves that it was "designed" to fire multi projectile ammunition so the only logical conclusion I can reach is that the Court and Federal Government is recognizing that Franklin has the (claimed exclusive) power (or at least Franklin claims to have )to with their minds make SBR's that aren't SBR's because they "designed" them (with their brain waves) to fire multiple projectile ammunition.
In Short, The Government has (according to Franklin) imbued Franklin wth "very special boy" powers granting them monopoly and Franklin is claiming that they themselves can now say magic words and imbue OTHER people with "very special boy" powers (Despite at this time appearing to not have any formal, legal method to do so as they don't have any patents pending or issued). This is a completely different situation then the Rarebreed case because they at least had a (probably invalid) patent, Franklin just looks to have magical powers and potentially a unique form of intellectual property.
Also the ATF might be violating a court order because the Judge in the February decision told them to "Create procedures for regulation of GCA-only weapons within 180 days" and they don't seem to have done that (Unless telling people to check "Other" on the 4473 as they did in the new determination letter is considered satisfactory to the judge)
If this is the thing that blows up the NFA I'm going to lose my shit. The Cheatcode has been right under our noses for 91 years and all it took were some semantic wordgames (Is Legal Practice anything but?) And an (alleged) sincere belief on Franklin's part that they "Designed" (in their mind) a firearm to fire two projectiles at once (despite not as anyone can tell making any mechanical modification to the firearm)
I'm so curious as to what mechanism Franklin claims they can transfer their "very special boy" powers via, you can't (I think so anyway) license an idea without an actual patent, but Franklin hasn't mentioned a patent or an application for one in the context of the Antithesis or it's super real totally legitimate multi projectile assemblies.