It just came to me! But I need advice.

You can use the same theam, but can't copy what the author has writen verbattam, I believe? But my advice I would tred the water carefully!!

Bob

Hi Bob,

This isn't something that is written about. It is a fishing lure that already exists. I can modify it so it looks and functions totally different than the original is intended. I have the materials to make these from scratch. I can produce about a thousand of these in an evening. I was thinking of selling them on my web site.

I already have the sales pitch and a description of how and why it works. I'm pretty excited about this idea. I did some research on this and nothing like it exists. I have been angling since I was 3 and I haven't seen anything like it in my 25 years of fishing. Hell if this works out....... I dunno...... Man! Warrior Forum woke me up!

Roger

I don't get it...you want to modify someone else's product or your own product?

If it's your own, there is no reason why you couldn't except the ethical nature of how much you modify when you resell to the same audience who bought the first product.

If you are talking about someone elses, it all comes down to what you mean by modify. Most people's products, particularly in IM, are similar in content and message but that doesn't mean you should copy them.

It's funny someone once game me this example and really it is true when you think about it.

1. If you copy someone's book and try to resell it that's copyright infringement.
but
2. If you take 3 books and take element messages from all 3 to make a single book that is ok (that is how many books are born if you read the references in the books)

In the modern world where information is seen more as public domain it is a murky world to say the least being constantly redefined

Many different companies make these ITEMS. They are all basically the same design. This isn't content or the written word or web design.

I'll use the example of a fork. (many of you may have light bulbs turn on when you get my meaning)

If you bend a normal fork a certain way it allows someone with limited mobility to feed themselves when they couldn't with a straight fork.

Many companies make forks spoons and knives. But when they are modified a smaller company becomes a niche for silverware for the special needs.

I plan on modifying a fishing lure. Someone else's product. Not mine.

Roger

Hi Roger,

To use your fork analogy; I don't think that smaller company is modifying someone else's fork, but calling it their own. More likely, they're making their own version from scratch. OR, they're promoting their product as a modified version of the other company's product.

Kind of like selling a Saleen Mustang. They modify Ford's car, and sell it as such. They don't try to rename it & sell it as their own. They promote the modifications.

There may be a better analogy, but I think you can get the gist of what I'm saying. You should probably talk to a patent attorney, though. I just play one on TV.

Tim

So you have a light bulb go off that it is your lazy rear end that is holding you back and you then ask if it is ok to modify someone else's product?

Is that not just continuing along the same lazy path?

Shane_K

I guess you can call it that Shane. But I had two orders for my "idea" and kinda sorta wanted a quick response. So I got off of my "lazy rear end" and took the long road on product modifications. I found that this item isn't even patented. So therefore I went and contacted the two contacts and voila. Two orders for 1500 bucks each.

Thanks all.

Roger

I just got another order. Only $500 for this one. That's the most I ever made in less than 24 hours! $3500.00!!! I haven't even put this my website! I just sent out my idea to some online and street stores. Thanks again Warrior Forum!

Roger

I used to work for an invention company. THousands of people every year would come to this company to submit their ideas. The company would "design a prototype", and market the product to buying companies. I would make the infomercials for the new products. I have to say that the vast majority of products that would come across my desk were slightly modified versions of existing products.

One example I can think of is an umbrella. The company took an existing umbrella and removed the handle. They replaced it with another handle that had a container filed with long plastic bags. THe purpose was to put your wet umbrella into the plastic bag when you went inside.

I have no idea if this product was successful or if it even ever made it to the shelf, but I do know that because the old product was modified to become a new, unique product, it was not infringing on any copyrights or patents.

BASF for example, does this all of the time. So i think you will be ok if you modify the fishing lure.

Matt

Thanks Matt,

That's what I came across in Patents. If you modify an existing product that the Patent holder did not intend, then you are ok to do so. Getting a patent for the modification is quite difficult though but I'm in the works for it.

Roger