The Steel Guitar Forum

Posted: **1 May 2006 4:15 pm**

Here is what started it all. You can have your very own copy of the Fry-Pan patent.
http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-LAP-STEEL-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-Patent_W0QQitemZ7403823156QQcategoryZ41439QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jaime

Posted: **1 May 2006 4:35 pm**

Yep, and they enjoyed that patent ...

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>As a means of encouraging innovation and the disclosure of new products, Congress passed The Patent Act in 1936. The Act granted the inventor of a product or process a seventeen-year period of exclusive-rights to the invention, during which time he could enjoy the commercial rewards flowing from the development.

After the seventeen-year patent period, other producers are allowed to market competing versions of the product or process<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thats the "underlying issue" ... turning a "Patent" into a "Trademark" ... giving the holder infinite domain over the invention ???

Yes RIC Trademarked it now ... applied in 12/2004 .... hmmmm

I recall many "infringers" ... some quite famous ... without any "action" taken by RIC ... hmmmm

But once functional Horseshoe Magnet Pickups for Bass Guitars ... hit the market in mid 2004 ... hmmmm

Well ... like I said

Que Sera Sera

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Slants of the Week
Hawaiian Steel Stuff
The Casteels

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 02 May 2006 at 08:42 AM.]

Posted: **4 May 2006 7:29 am**

Rick -- I say you build and market the MRI... agressively. Then, when RIC gets a clue, and tries to start building "real" horseshoe p'ups again, as opposed to the faux-shoes they currently make, because they see a marketing opportunity (albeit a small market), you can advertise your design as being a "...MAJOR improvement over the "blank-N-backer" faux-shoe design! Now, get that elusive tone you've been craving, only MORE of it!" blah, blah...

Bwa-hahahahahahahahaha!

Basically, rub their noses in it.

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Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, A6, B11); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Regal resonator (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); assorted ukuleles; upright bass

[This message was edited by Todd Weger on 04 May 2006 at 08:31 AM.]

Posted: **4 May 2006 11:24 am**

I Second that emotion !!

The Steel Guitar Forum

Bye Bye Horseshoes