Stymied on making new knife

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Messages
2,301
I am adding the link to my query on manufacturing a new knife on the regular board. I am now running this on the "Manufacturer" forum to see if I can find any interest.

Do you have a program or suggestion on how we could proceed for mutual benefit?

I'll reiterate. I have owned my own businesses for my whole life and am not looking to waste your time.

Thank you.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2382671#post2382671
 
Hi Lavan,

It is an interesting question that you present. There are also many directions possible. All have positives and negatives that should be weighed before moving too far in one direction.

If just having a working model for testing or presentation or whatever, is your first step, then hiring a trustworthy custom maker to make models for you will answer many questions.

Do you want to patent and own the patents, have someone else patent but you own the patents (not likely), or sell the idea to a manufacturer who will patent and own the patents?

Do you want to manufacture and distribute yourself?

How much involvement do you wish to have?

I would suggest that you answer the necessary questions before offering your ideas to any company. There are good companies that do not wish to be part of a "race" to purchase an idea, on the other hand, every company would prefer to be "first choice".

I would suggest that you find some type of counsel that you trust and then proceed in a more private setting. This is a public forum, ideas suggested here become public property. You would want to get your IP lined up prior to public viewing.

sal
 
The extent of involvement that I wish to have is $2.00 per knife sold. I have done service marks before but that was just for national protection for a name only. What I hope to do is to protect the design or feature with the lion's share going to the guy who does this for a living, i.e. the manufacturer.
My quandary is in proceeding with an actual "product."
My best example, in your case, would be your Spyderco HOLE. Every Tom, Dick and Chan is making knives with "holes" to open with, but your immediate use and marketing has associated Spyderco with the hole. While you probably would like to have every knife with a hole be a Spyderco, in the real world that can't happen.
My idea is as basic as your hole.
(That didn't come out right..heh)
Anyhow, that's the extent of the "involvement." I guess I should search the legal angles to determine how to protect a "hole." (Not it, by the way.)
My pipedream was to just be able to demonstrate the concept and see if a professional knife manufacturer was as taken by it as I am. Sorta like becoming a partner. And the best partnerships are drawn on an assumption that both partners HATE each other rather than the normal "buddy-buddy" kinds that always end up with a dispute.
 
Hi Lavan,

Most royalties these days are based on percentages rather than fixed per knife figures. It seems to make all parties happier.

We would always be interested to look at a functional idea, especially if it is as functional as hole openers.

Peter Jhones at Spyderco is the first step. He covers all parties involved with discolosure agreements, etc. He can be reached by telephone 800-525-7770 ext 210 or email peterj@spyderco.com.

We like to be "honest, fair & proper" in all of our dealings and the legal part is important for both of us.

I'm not sure about the "hate each other" part? We have done more than 25 collaborations with both design and utility patents. There might be a few that would have liked more sales than we received, but I don't think there are any that hate.

sal
 
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