| Author |
Topic: Patents and proprietary rights |
Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2008 7:45 am |
|
| How many of the brands of Steels that are now being build hold patents that disallow them from being copied by other builders? |
|
|
 |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2008 8:00 am
|
|
I doubt if a "complete" pedal steel can be patented, however, portions of the instrument can be.
I know that Bill Rudolph, who builds the Williams Guitar, has patents on the his changer design and also on the crossover system he has developed. |
|
|
|
Michael Pierce
From:
Madison, CT
|
|
|
|
Brad Malone
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2008 6:31 pm patents
|
|
| Thanks Erv, I knew Bill has a patent on the changer, that's why no one can copy it without his permission...I did not know he had one on his crossover model, which as I understand, is the best one on the market. |
|
|
|
Brint Hannay
From:
Maryland, USA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2008 10:00 pm
|
|
| Meaning absolutely no negative implication about the actual quality of Bill's design (indeed probably the reverse), but isn't it the only crossover design currently on the market? |
|
|
|
Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
|
Posted 12 Jun 2008 2:14 am
|
|
| Paul Franklin (Sr) had a patent on the Ped-A-Bro but I don't know if it is still active. |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2008 5:28 am
|
|
Brint,
Maybe because Bill has the patent on the crossover design explains why his is the only one on the market. 
Jack,
Patents are only good for 22 years (I believe the time element is correct) and they can never be renewed except through an act of congress. However. trademarks and copyrights, can be renewed indefinitely. That is the advantage of having a trademark and/or a copyright over a patent. |
|
|
|
