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 19:32:57 GMT
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Original-From:
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Steve Baker <sjbaker1@+Spamcake+airmail.net>
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Reply-To:
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sjbaker1@airmail.(StopSpam)net
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Viewed:
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729 times
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Allan Bedford wrote:
> > 2. Have any of you created Lego projects, or know of any, that might be
> > patentable?
>
> A 'patent' by definition is typically obtainable only when a person or
> company has designed a new device or mechanism. Examples? The stud and
> tube interlocking mechanism of the original LEGO bricks are one example.
> The particular clicking action of a computer mouse might be another. But
> you have to create some mechanical or chemical system which has effectively
> never been produced before. Silly putty... another example.
>
> By simply creating a LEGO project, you are not expanding the device used to
> make the basic bricks, upon which someone else already has a patent. You
> *might* be able to obtain a copyright on your design, or trademark the name
> of the company under which you intend to sell your creations, but you can't
> really patent a LEGO project, unless I misunderstand your question.
That can't be true. You are saying that you couldn't patent a machine
because it's made from standard parts?
People patent electronic devices made from off-the-shelf logic chips
all the time.
I don't see any legal reason why a Lego machine shouldn't be patentable
if it relies some mechanism thats unique and interesting.
Suppose you came up with some kind of walking robot that used a leg
geometry that had some special property - I don't think the patent
people would care whether it was built from Lego or machined from
aluminum stock.
----------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------------
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URLs : http://www.sjbaker.org
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Lego patents
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| (...) Not at all. What I'm saying is that just putting a bunch of LEGO bricks together does not qualify something as a device which can be patented. Now if that LEGO construction can remove cancerous tumours without leaving any scars.... now that's (...) (23 years ago, 28-Dec-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Lego patents
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| (...) Just be sure that in your class you refer to them as "LEGO bricks" and not LEGOs. To do so would be doing your students a disservice. :) (...) This question isn't clear to me. Are you asking if someone can obtain a patent (or at least build a (...) (23 years ago, 27-Dec-01, to lugnet.robotics)
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