---- neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > Hi all. > > Hypothetically speaking, this would be a "one off" for me to use at > work. Did some patent searching online but didn't get any hits. > > If one makes an item, that is the same or very similar in function and > appearance to original design, is this *generally* considered a > copyright infringement? > > Item design appears simple and at most I figure $50 in materials. > Likely less as some materials are on hand. Item new is $250. "Items" are only copyrighted if they constitute published or publishable material. "Inventions" are not copyrighted, they are patented. BTW, copyright exists whether registered or not. The significance is whether the item constitutes intellectual property, not whether the copyright is registered. Same is technically true of patentable inventions. In either case, proving a time line may become important if a claim is brought, and that's what patenting and copyrighting make simple. mcneely |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.