Patents? What are those?

[tomg]

On 17-Nov-98, Sean Costello wrote:
>tomg wrote:

>> Which brings me to my dilemma. A couple of months ago Moog
>> (Big Briar) released a ring modulator and a filter foot pedal.
>> These have a very cool mini moog look with wooden sides and
>> color rocker switches.
>> 
>> I have built, modified and posted many Moog designs under
>> the assumption the patents had expired. I now have doubts.
>> Maybe it's just paranoia caused by all this talk, but I
>> have asked Dr. Moog to look over my pages and will remove
>> anything he objects to.

>The Moog ladder filter patent expired in 1986 or so.  Make all the
>ladder filters you want.  Plenty of synths have used the Moog ladder
>filter design both before and after the patent expired:

>ARP 2500
>grey-faced 2600
>ARP Axxe
>black-n-gold Odyssey
>ARP Pro Soloist
>Oberheim OB-MX
>Waldorf Pulse
>Doepfer modular

>I doubt that any of them asked permission.  

But I should, if I can. Ethics tend to be situational. You can 
justify just about anything you want, but you still know whether
you did the right thing or not. Karma and all that stuff.

>Also, plenty of people used
>diodes instead of transistors, as a sneaky way of getting around the
>patent (EMS, Roland System 100/SH-5/TB-303, Korg MS-50).  Either ethics
>aren't important in the synth industry, or this sort of thing isn't that
>big a deal.  It seems that Moog isn't that territorial about his expired
>patents.  He is a bit more territorial about his name nowadays, which is
>a good thing.

Yeah! I thought it was sad his email address is "realmoog". There was
this huge "New Moog" thread on the synth-site he responded to about
the guys who ripped his name and designs. Makes the red-neck Tom
(in here with the juvenile delinquent Tom and the perfect logical
being Tom) unhappy. I don't heal as fast as I used to though.

>As far as your pages, you are not just scanning in old Moog service
>manuals (unlike some of us - how do you type a sheepish smiley face?).
>You have used a lot of Moog ideas as a basis for your own work.  The
>final circuit ideas are yours, as well as all of the drawings.

Thanks Sean. I try to add a little to the knowledge pool when
I can. Take some knowledge and pass it on. 

> I would think that your work would cause no offense.  

I hope so! I would hate to take anything down but it would almost
be worth it just to talk to Bob a time or two.

I may have put him in an awkward position. If he says it's ok, how
much license does that give me? If he says take it down does that 
make him an ass? If he doesn't respond what does that mean?

>If you really want to be
>scrupulous, put copious references on all of your pages, as to any
>patents, service manuals, articles, etc. you might have consulted during
>the design phase of your circuit.

More Notes! Damm!..:)

>BTW, I have a lowpass filter Moogerfooger on order.  I just couldn't
>resist.  I really do feel good knowing that the money is going to "Uncle
>Bob."  Plus they look so dang cool. 

I want one too! $179 bucks for a "realmoog" and Bob gets the cash.

>Sean Costello (who is hoping that there will be a barberpole phaser
>Moogerfooger, and is making progress on the Csound barberpole phaser. I
>want to get it working in the digital realm, but I would really like a
>nice analog box that does the same thing.  Preferably with wooden sides
>and rocker switches.)

-tg (just another sinner (no religious implications) who tries 
to do the right thing, as long as it doesn't hurt too much.)