N Gauge Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: silly moo on October 17, 2013, 12:22:46 PM

Title: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: silly moo on October 17, 2013, 12:22:46 PM
Something I've just read on Facebook has made my blood boil  :veryangry:  there is a discussion about making copies of the Digi-Hats brush holders made by DCC Supplies.

I realise that they are quite simple components and that with 3-D printing it would be quite easy to copy the plastic brush holders but as DCC Supplies went to the trouble of developing the kits, I think this just isn't cricket!

Am I being silly?

I have no connection with DCC Supplies other than being a satisfied customer.

:NGaugeForum:
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: Tank on October 17, 2013, 12:25:00 PM
Yes, I just saw that on there as well.  Good post by you!
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: MikeDunn on October 17, 2013, 12:39:48 PM
Why not email Fiona with a link ?

She may already be aware, but ...
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: Sprintex on October 17, 2013, 12:45:31 PM
Copying it for your own personal use is fine, after all we all copy some aspects of manufactured products whether to save a few pennies or for the satisfaction of making it ourselves, but anything other than that I would consider very underhand :no:

Having said that if DCC Supplies haven't patented it then they've left themselves open to anyone producing copies.


Paul
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: silly moo on October 17, 2013, 01:04:00 PM
It's trademarked which I'm not sure is the same, the cost of copyrighting it is probably prohibitive. I know it's an easy thing to copy and it will be difficult for them to stop people making their own, it just doesn't feel right to me.
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: Caz on October 17, 2013, 01:57:15 PM
It is not as though they are expensive to buy from DCC Supplies, bit of a cheek I think.
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: silly moo on October 17, 2013, 02:01:04 PM
The Facebook discussion has developed further and there is talk of the DigiHat brush holder being a readily available electrical component, at a cost of mere pennies, if it is then I suppose there's nothing to stop people buying them from wherever they want to. I always thought it was specially made for DCC Supplies which why I thought it was not on to copy it, even if it is easy to do.
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: GWR-Kris on October 17, 2013, 02:37:00 PM
This person is not copying the design the business buzz word is called 're-engineering' lol.

this happens everywhere, alot of items even cars that look very similar to another design.
Title: Re: Copying someone else's idea
Post by: EtchedPixels on October 17, 2013, 02:58:29 PM
If it was very clever they could have sought patent protection. Beyond that it's not a creative work so copyright doesn't apply in any way I can see.(

Besides which the Digihat itself is but a step improvement on kits by other manufacturers. Its called progress. If someone can do it cheaper and better good luck to them.