Subject:
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Re: Lego patents
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Thu, 27 Dec 2001 18:26:36 GMT
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Viewed:
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770 times
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I did indeeed have a talk with Brad Justus amongst others at Brickfest.
He was very positive about what we are trying to do with the caveat that
Lego holds various patents, trademarks and copyrights which they guard
closely, not surprisingly.
Any attempt, deliberate or otherwise, to duplicate either their mechanical
devices or written or graphic material is an infringment and they will
rightly ask you to cease doing whatever you're doing.
Outside of that, use of their products as part of another enterprise seems
to be acceptable as long as no claim is made that the parts or usage are in
way supported or sanctioned by them. They also advised me not to
specifically point out that the items we make are derived from original Lego
parts.
We have been very careful, in preparing our product literature and website
to avoid any direct or implied reference to the Lego company in respect of
the products or the materials they are made from.
That said, as I stated at the start of this post, they were very helpful and
encouraging to us as I think they have been to all bona fide third parties
who are assisting the Technic/Mindstorms community to grow.
JB
In lugnet.robotics, Richard Jenkins writes:
> I am not entirely sure what you are asking about, but maybe this will help...
>
> I met a guy at Brickfest earlier this year named John Barnes. John makes
> aftermarket sensors for Mindstorms, using third party electronics, but a
> modified Lego(TM) brick. You can see what I mean at www.hitechnicstuff.com.
>
> When I spoke with him, he had not put this site up and was concerned that
> Lego would be after him for using thier bricks in his products. He said he
> was going to speak with someone from Lego before getting started.
> Apparently he worked something out. Perhaps after viewing his site you may
> want to send him an e-mail.
>
> Rich Jenkins
>
>
> In lugnet.robotics, John Kozma writes:
> > I will be teaching a course on Information Technology Law in the Computer
> > Science Department at the College of Charleston next semester. Having
> > recently purchased (mainly for my own entertainment) a Lego Mindstorms
> > Robotics Invention kit, it occurred to me that it might be a useful tool for
> > illustrating the structure and drafting of patent claims. (After all, the
> > name of the kit does have "invention" in it!)
> >
> > I have looked for patents that expressly include the term Lego on the USPTO
> > website. Most involve references to stackable or interlocking elements, and
> > cite Lego as an example of the concept. Quite a few are for Legos or
> > similar toys. I haven't found any yet that actually involve using Legos to
> > reduce an invention to practice. Two questions:
> >
> > 1. Anyone know of any patents wherein the invention has been reduced to
> > practice using Legos?
> >
> > 2. Have any of you created Lego projects, or know of any, that might be
> > patentable?
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Lego patents
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| I am not entirely sure what you are asking about, but maybe this will help... I met a guy at Brickfest earlier this year named John Barnes. John makes aftermarket sensors for Mindstorms, using third party electronics, but a modified Lego(TM) brick. (...) (23 years ago, 27-Dec-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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