Spydie Hole Licensing?

[Peter Atwood]

Howdy all, we've just been speculating on the Spyderco Opening hole trademark. I know that makers can use the hole if they are licensed from Spyderco but I don't know the details. What kind of holes are covered ( round, oval, slots etc.) and how much is the fee?

 

[ThinkOfTheChildren]

Spyderco used to have a patent on all holes. That patent ran out recently, but the round (circular) hole is their trademark. (BTW - according to The Spyderco Story, the patent doesn't just cover a hole, it covers "...a depression that can be engaged by the user's thumb to open the blade one-handedly..." The hole is just a depression deep enough to go through )

Now companies can use oval, square, whatever holes, but to use the circle they must get permission and pay royalties. I have no idea how much that costs and I don't know if Sal is making any new agreements.

 

[jefroman]

Companies have to pay rolayties to use the round hole in their knives, but knife makers have a one time fee of 25 dollars and then they can use the hole as much as the want.
Even so, every time they use the hole on one of their knives, they have to give credit to Spyderco.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, Sal.

Jeff

 

[Sal Glesser]

As mentioned, Spyderco had a patent on hole openers in genreal until the patent ran out last year. Spyderco trademarked a round hole several years ago.

At this time, Spyderco is not licensing any companies to use our trademarked round hole. Such useage dilutes our trademark and is not in Spyderco's best interest.

Spyderco has been licensing custom makers to use our trademarked round hole for a limited number of custom knives only.

sal