[sdiy] Re: Doepfer A-105 looks like Oakley Multiladder?

[Jim Patchell]

    Comments in line...

John Blacet wrote:

> An electronic circuit can ONLY be protected by patent; an expensive and
> time consuming process.
>
> Copyrighting a DRAWING of a circuit only protects the drawing and not
> the circuit. Anyone can redraw the circuit and/or use the circuit
> without legal consequence unless the circuit is protected by patent.
>

    I would like to double emphasize this.

>
> Companies getting inspired or actually just using the circuitry is a
> very common occurence in all phases of the electronic industry (other
> fields also). This is a good thing for the general quality of goods and
> services we enjoy as consumers, but it makes life difficult for the
> individual inventor.
>

    In my career, I have been called on by several places I have worked for
to come up with products that would compete with a competator.  All I would
have would be a description of what the product does.  I would add a couple
of more features to one up the competition, and we would have a new
product, and then the other guy would generally up the ante by adding yet
another feature.

>
> Blacet Research does license certain types of circuitry from engineers
> who have shown expertise and invention. These circuits are not usually
> published on the internet. We do this to maintain working relationships
> with these engineers and to acknowledge their work. Patents are
> typically not involved.

    Secrecy is the best policy.  If you publish it, you shouldn't be
surprised by what happens.

>
>
> If you have a novel idea, chances are it is not so novel. The current
> discussion about bringing filter stages taps out  for recombining is
> something that has been seen in the EM field for a long time. We used a
> similar technique 20 years ago for the Phasefilter, for one example.

    Reinventing the wheel is a common problem, and I have done it on
numerous ocasions.  It truely is difficult to come up with something
original, even when you don't steel it.

>
> ___________________
> John Blacet
> Blacet Research
> http://www.blacet.com

    Please note I do not aprove of what company "D" might have done (since
I don't know the facts, I can't judge).  John, I think, has put thing very
well into perspective.

    -Jim