copyright?

N

nc527

Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
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I was wondering if it would be illegal for me to make my own version of the izula? Not an exact copy, but using some things from it. If it would infringe upon your design, I would not make it. Theres just a couple things I want diffrent of my version of a izula, such as using a stainless steel, longer handle, and a little diffrent handle.
 
I'm no PA but I would say that if you make it and keep it as your own there's no legal problem. If you make it and try to sell it as a custom Rat Cutlery knife then you've got issues. I am no legal authority!!!!
 
I can't speak offically for RAT cutlery but I would say that as long as your only making one for yourself and not planning on selling them you should be alright.
 
As long as you make something for your own use then you can do what you want, pretty much. There are some prohibited items like fully automatic weapons, nukes, etc. You get the idea.
 
If you do make this for your own use I would say that you need to post pics on this forum and send me a free prototype. All kidding aside, we would never get anything done if we did not improve upon the things that we come across. Use your common sense. If this is a knife you want and you have the ability to make it; go ahead. If you make this knife and try to compete with this company for that given market then that is something you need to be prepared for.
 
why not just buy one it is not like they are expensive....you get alot of knife for the money
 
Interesting, I would like to see where you go differently.
Also, what steel are you going to use and why?
Looks like a fun project, please keep us posted.

And no, don't worry, unless you are going to make it in numbers and sell them.
 
FWIW, from what I understand about copyright law, the design of the knife is not copyrightable because it is a "useful article".
It has no
http://www.bitlaw.com/copyright/unprotected.html said:
"features that can be identified separately from, and are capable of existing independently of, the utilitarian aspects of the article."
Click to expand...

Just don't copy the logo/name and you're good to go :)



disclaimer: I'm not a lawyer, or your lawyer .... :)
 
BTW: post up a pic of your work when you get through so we can all brag about it ;)
 
Words from Jeff Randall from a conversation we had a couple years ago at the Blade Show...

"They're just knives. This tool has been around long enough that there is no such thing as a blade shape and handle shape that hasn't been tried before. For every knife you make, there's another knife somewhere else that someone else made that is almost exactly the same. Getting bent out of shape about similarities in anything that has that much history is stupid. As long as you aren't obviously making an exact copy and calling it the same thing, who cares. They're just knives."

I think that in anyone's eyes that matters, you're not copying, you're making a nc527ula.
 
Dylside said:
Words from Jeff Randall from a conversation we had a couple years ago at the Blade Show...

"They're just knives. This tool has been around long enough that there is no such thing as a blade shape and handle shape that hasn't been tried before. For every knife you make, there's another knife somewhere else that someone else made that is almost exactly the same. Getting bent out of shape about similarities in anything that has that much history is stupid. As long as you aren't obviously making an exact copy and calling it the same thing, who cares. They're just knives."

I think that in anyone's eyes that matters, you're not copying, you're making a nc527ula.
Click to expand...

Anyone who doesn't understand Jeff's comment shouldn't be designing knives. Well designed and made knives have been around for thousands of years.
 
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