Quote:
Originally Posted by doo540
The chinese dont care about patents, the US patents mean nothing in China, the US goverment has no power in China at all in this area, the patents do keep American companies from stealing designs that is true. So what are you going to say when Integy starts selling the Slipperential? Do you think Mike will go after them?
How do we know that HPI doesn't have a patent on the BAJA? Granted it is a large scale buggy so maybe there is no patent on it, but for another company to reproduce the baja in such detail that HPI parts fit on it with no mods, doesn't seem to be to be very good business pratice to me.
I will support HPI and not the copy cat companies, HPI took the risk to invest money into the program, provide good customer support and therefore have earned the right to my business.
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If HPI had a US or other Patent on the buggy it would not be sold in the US period! We are not talking about buggies being sold in China. Inside China they don't have to recognize patents, however if they export something to the US which holds a US or other recognized patent it cannot be sold within the US.
These things go much deeper than how you may "feel" about it. Like it or not it is what it is.
Mike has a patent pending on the slipperential (powerful but not the same as having the patent). It means he has filed the proper documentation and the patent is under review by the US Patent Office and will at some point in the near future be granted a full patent. If Integy tried copying the slipperential and selling it in the US Mike would have legal recourse. He would have his attorneys first file a "Cease and Desist Order" to integy and the case would proceed from there. Mike would easily win any lawsuit that could insue plus damages.
I would also be willing to bet that part of the reason it took so long for the slipperential release if because of Mike going through the necessary steps to file the patent.
http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...rential&cat=41 (see patent pending notation)
Also see this link directly from the US patent office for further information:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac...eneral/faq.htm
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac...ral/index.html
If HPI had such in the US for the baja you can be certain this would have already happened and no one would be purchasing the "clones" in the US or EU.