Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

I suppose it depends on the "scope" of the operation.

If I was ∗totally dependent∗ on MOTM for income, had employees, etc etc etc and all I offered
were assembled modules, then NO, I would NOT supply schematics, either.

It's not the worry of "Company XYZ" stealing stuff as much as the slow 'nibbling away' of the
market by DIY'ers that I would target (trying to convince that it's not worth the effort to build
when you can buy. How many people build their own cars, houses or boats?).

Certainly, there is patent protection (saved Moog's butt) but that is a long, involved , $$$
pain. You REALLY have to DESIRE to protect something to go that route. Even so, you have to
"self-police", and it doesn't ∗prevent∗ copying, just gives legal recourse. Then it gets nasty
(EMu versus Sequential) and does anybody really "win"?

Other reasons not to give out schematics: pride, embarrassment ("the designs suck, let's not
prove it") and true innovation (Marshall Time Modulator).

Another reason: may people think a schematic contains all necessary info to actually build
something. WRONG! It doesn't contain pcb layout info, parts specs (like special caps) or
considerations like grounding schemes. Errors can propagate for 20 years (the infamous Penfold
book), and the sacred Horowitz & Hill that has glaring screwups, at least in the first edition.

Since MOTM is only 20% of total income, and I am selling ∗kits∗, you get schematics. My
"protection" to some degree is that the modules are 'overdesigned' so that the standard cheap-ass
DIYers ("I am a poor student, but I want a $5,000 modular.") will shy away from such things as
$12 dual matched FETS (I can't count the emails I get about 1K tempcos, and when I say $6.50ea
you think they were buying a Ferrari water pump.)

Paul S.