New technology in Model Engineers Workshop

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> If I photograph my latest issue of ME can I flog the pictures then?

No because when you buy a copy you are bound by the disclaimer on page 3 "The Publisher's written consent must be obtained before any part of this [publication my be reproduced in any form whatsoever, including photocopiers and information retrieval systems…"

In other words, just like John needs to, we put 'licence conditions' on the mag.

Remember what it used to say around the middle of records?

Neil

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Do you believe you have invented anything novel and unique and if so, do you think anybody would realistically pay you a royalty to be allowed to make it? If not, there's no point wasting your time and money patenting it. Many companies are completely unrealistic about the chances of getting their money back and end up throwing staggering sums away.

You basically need to patent it in every market you think it's worth being protected in. Europe, America, China – how long's the list? Each one needs to be done separately and will take a great deal of money and time. You might wish to get Registered Design protection which really applies to the "look" of the thing, not any clever inventions embodied within. They really don't seem to work in China….

What do you think is novel? Don’t want to sound mean but personally, I can't see anything, in which case a patent isn't applicable to start with. You could possibly obtain a provisional patent, even a full one (most easily in the US – I often joke that you could patent a glass of water there). Some joker in Australia was granted a patent application for the wheel a few years back (seriously) although not surprisingly it was revoked.

Bottom line is that if you have designed a product that makes a nice margin, somebody will eventually copy it, no matter what you do. Patent coverage at its best wins you some time to harvest some reward from your invention before they do. If you've decided you aren't going to to patent it yourself and want to prevent somebody else patenting your idea, you can publish it.

Who’s going to want to copy your design? Hobby users aren’t prevented from copying and using it and industrial engineers / designers would do the work themselves, arguably just as well (skilled in the art etc). Quite simply, if there’s no novel IP, there’s nothing to get excited about.

Murray

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi Ian
Yes Design Registration is one way to go, you have to apply for it in every country it is less expensive than a patent but the costs do add up. A Patent lasts for 20 years Design Registration lasts for up to 10 years and Copyright is for 70 years plus. Copyright is a Right, there are minimal fees It is basically automatic you do not have to apply for it.

Hi Mark
I like your Licensing methods I think it is the best way forward. It might be a good Idea to add a wrapper with a serial number around an encrypted version of the Cad File and get the user to accept the terms an conditions as many software companies do, It would be a little more difficult but possible to change the cad file slightly making the actual design unique. OK this will not stop the hackers but it will make it harder for most users.

Hi Involute
Gee you did have a rough time with your universal spanner. Its a tough world out there……

Hi Michael
Agree the term and conditions will have to be well written, Up to the point of giving a laser cutter the file I feel fairly comfortable that the software is protected by copyright and further that the Laser cutter can be restrained by contract from reproducing the file outside the stated terms.

But what if the software is pirated the owner of the software claim damages against the pirate user? Can an Anton Piller Order be served on the pirate an any goods produced be seized?

**LINK**

These questions are yet to be answered?

Hi Bazyle
Good one ……..

Hi Muzzer
Yeah the road to a good design is full of potholes and much money and effort has been wasted patenting bad designs.

If the design I am working on was made by conventional manual methods I would not be very concerned, The problem is most of the design is laser cut steel plate. so far The CAD program says I have spent hundreds of hours on it and the final detailing will take as much as that again. I will then make a prototype. All this work can be copied and emailed in a few seconds.

"Nice Margin" is a bit of an oxymoron, the market is competitive, and gee I am trying to make it in the country where it is used not the far east.

I am not so much worried by others making a new machine If they want to put the time in to do it they can, as long as it is not a rip off of mine.

To All

Thanks for the replies so far, they are helping me a lot getting a better grip in the subject.

It will help if I can find similar cases that have been before the courts in other words precedent.Maybe someone knows of one?

This discussion is getting interesting…….

Regards
John

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