[sdiy] IP, copyright etc

[Harry Bissell Jr]

--- Fiercefish <fiercefish at btinternet.com> wrote:


> Also I have seen many commercial modules that are
> based on designs from "X" publication or "X"s
> design, are we to believe that in ALL cases
> permission was given/asked for? Again not condoning
> IP theft but it exists.

Hmmm. That is a horse~of~a~different~color :^)

In most cases, unless such a circuit has PATENT
protection... or Trade Secret protection (implying
that
if you SAW the design, you had to steal it) there is
no
legal right. This has been done to death in the
archives about some manufacturers 'cloning' other
people's designs.

In the case of the PV-1 converter I did... it was
actually done with Bob Moog's permission. Strictly
speaking... I did not NEED that permission because the
circuits are NOT patented and there is ample prior art
to argue that such a patent would not even be
defensible.

So in most cases, the "based on so-and-so's design" is
a courtesy and an honor to the original designer. In
most s-diy cases... recognition is what the designer
wanted anyway.

H^) harry