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Posted by MPM on 02-15-2001 09:39 PM:
This is rediculous!
quote:
Originally posted by khudsonllb
<snip>...I even know whether the Patent Office will accept any parts of my adapter improvements as patentable, and in no event would a patent stop a hobbyist from following Kopsis' instructions and building their own adapter. It is only my improvements to his design that I am entitled to protect, and that is all I am seeking to protect.
One benefit of having started the patent process is the possibility of attracting investment dollars to help develop more software to make the adapter useful. I think that is something we are all hoping for.
Keith Hudson
MatchBook Products LLC.
This is ridiculous. Simply designing your own PCB that is short enough for the CF card to fit inside the case or just stick out a bit, is OBVIOUS! THIS IS NOT PATENTABLE! This is B**l W****n all over again!
The comment that obtaining a patent would not prevent hobbyists from building their own is misleading. The holder of patent could go after (i.e. harass, threaten, and/or sue) anyone that publishes information on how to build the "hobby" version, if the patent holder wanted to. Again, this is B**l W****n!
The last comment about attracting investment money is overly simplistic. The best way to make money in the rapidly changing world of consumer electronics is to simply stay ahead of your competitors. Even if you have a patent, getting around them is easy. And if you spend too much time on patent lawsuits you will likely fall behind your competition in the market. And then if you do win your patent lawsuit, the market has likely changed and/or dried up for the product you had patented!
The US (and likely the everyone else's) patent system is completely broken. The ONLY people that make money with patents are lawyers. So invest your money in your business instead of your lawyers. Whether or not you have a patent will have nothing to with whether your business succeeds or fails.
I am very upset Matchbook Products LLC over this insane patent issue. I will NEVER buy anything from them (and yes, I was seriously considering it until this patent crap came up). I have also unsubscribed from the Yahoo! Groups forum and mailing list for Matchbook Products LLC.
Posted by kamalot on 02-15-2001 10:19 PM:
Re: This is rediculous!
quote:
Originally posted by MPM
I have also unsubscribed from the Yahoo! Groups forum and mailing list for Matchbook Products LLC.
That'll show 'em!
Why is this such a big deal? MatchBook Products is a small company. If filing a patent is what MatchBook Products thinks they need to do to survive then I wish them well. I'm all for supporting the little guy who is giving me value for my dollar rather than dumping money into over-priced products by companies that don't give a rat's ass about me. (Feel free to insert any company's name here: Innogear, Sony, Microsoft)
I doubt Keith Hudson is trying to stifle developers from building their own CF adapters but rather protect his own investment in his business.
Kamalot
Posted by GlucoPilot on 02-15-2001 10:35 PM:
I have to totally agree here. I wrote GlucoPilot, a diabetes management system for the PalmPilot, and had thousands in legal bills trying to protect it. I commend Keith for protecting his product.
Posted by Matthew Nichols on 02-15-2001 11:12 PM:
quote:
From Kopsis Engineering FAQ
Q. Is your design patented?
A. No. let's face it, it's two wires. Patenting that would be as absurd as patenting a screen protector! [inside joke for VisorCentral discussion forum members 
]
What improvements has Matchbook made to their adapter to warrant a patent? I see that it is shorter than the original and clear, anything else? Maybe you could actually figure out how to make an adapter where the pins don't bend easily...? What could a foreign company steal from YOU thats not already public information? I personally would welcome a large corporation, foregin or not, to step in and begin producing these.__________________
Matt Nichols
[email protected]
Posted by yardie on 02-16-2001 01:19 AM:
My Support
I for one accepts Keith Hudsons explanationa dn support him all the way!!!
I find that techie guys in general don't like the word "Patent". Unless of course its something of their own creation.
Posted by MPM on 02-16-2001 10:10 PM:
Nope...
quote:
Originally posted by yardie
I for one accepts Keith Hudsons explanationa dn support him all the way!!!
I find that techie guys in general don't like the word "Patent". Unless of course its something of their own creation.
Nope. I don't want a patent on my own creations because I know that I can make more money without one. How? I can spend my time and money improving my product instead of wasting time and money on defending a patent.
Posted by nightingales on 02-16-2001 10:42 PM:
Re: This is rediculous!
quote:
Originally posted by MPM
<snip> I am very upset Matchbook Products LLC over this insane patent issue. I will NEVER buy anything from them (and yes, I was seriously considering it until this patent crap came up). I have also unsubscribed from the Yahoo! Groups forum and mailing list for Matchbook Products LLC.
Though I agree for the most part with your opinion on the patent system and also agree that it might not make much sense to patent some of this technology, I absolutely can't understand what got you so riled up about Matchbook!? Let them patent what they feel they should patent! Why can't we just disagree with them without being so upset?__________________
</font></B><BR><FONT face="verdana,arial,helvetica" size="1" >It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, a half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. - Hit it.</font>
