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protecting a idea
- Thread starter JTknives
- Start date
and thay wanted to protect it. that person would not mind if others used the pattern if thay asked first. maybe name it after himself. hint hint 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Jarod,
I would say name it what you want and promote it as much as possible. With name recognition ,you are far better off than with legal protection and little use by others. Think of things like, "Don Fogg's fullering tool",or "IG's forge plans". They are not trademarked, and would be nearly impossible to protect anyway. Through publication, promotion, and name recognition, those things are now firmly associated with the creators name and credit.
Secondly, I know you are proud of the "New" knot or whatever it is you created, but it is very unlikely it is a totally original idea/concept. A trademark or patent would cost from a thousand to ten thousand, and a maker could still copy it and you would never know or be able to do anything about it. It would be better if it was available, unrestricted, so a maker could make a knife and sell it as a, "Jarod Todd style handle".Think of Bob Loveless, how many "Loveless style drop point hunters" are made. If he had tried to protect that shape do you think you or I would not have made a similar knife ? No, but we would just have been calling them hunting knives, instead of using Bob's name.
Finally, remember - "IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY, AND THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT OF QUALITY".
Stacy
I would say name it what you want and promote it as much as possible. With name recognition ,you are far better off than with legal protection and little use by others. Think of things like, "Don Fogg's fullering tool",or "IG's forge plans". They are not trademarked, and would be nearly impossible to protect anyway. Through publication, promotion, and name recognition, those things are now firmly associated with the creators name and credit.
Secondly, I know you are proud of the "New" knot or whatever it is you created, but it is very unlikely it is a totally original idea/concept. A trademark or patent would cost from a thousand to ten thousand, and a maker could still copy it and you would never know or be able to do anything about it. It would be better if it was available, unrestricted, so a maker could make a knife and sell it as a, "Jarod Todd style handle".Think of Bob Loveless, how many "Loveless style drop point hunters" are made. If he had tried to protect that shape do you think you or I would not have made a similar knife ? No, but we would just have been calling them hunting knives, instead of using Bob's name.
Finally, remember - "IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY, AND THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT OF QUALITY".
Stacy
Matthew Gregory
Chief Executive in charge of Entertainment
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Great points, Stacy. In fact, the reason this area of the forums is as strong as it is may likely be due to the willingness of nothing being a matter of exclusivity or secret process.
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2007
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JT knots are cool!
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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- Aug 20, 2004
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- 38,514
Jarod, I took a look at the knife. Very nice work.
I have seen a very similar wrap done in round leather on a tanto tsuka. The pattern is a modified long turks head ( basically a interwoven or sinnet knot).
I'll bet it did take some time to do. Very nice effect.
Stacy
I have seen a very similar wrap done in round leather on a tanto tsuka. The pattern is a modified long turks head ( basically a interwoven or sinnet knot).
I'll bet it did take some time to do. Very nice effect.
Stacy