Oookworks buisness for sale.

tallest of pauls

Section Hiker
Nice guy Shaun,

Used to enjoy the bants on OM with him.

Hope he's gone back to digging holes.

He was happy in a hole or camped on a knoll. Full of wit and humour never one to spread rumour. Then he built a nest which lead to a job to detest. It drove him quite mad. This made me sad. Find a hole Shaun and you will be reborn.

:wideyed:
 

Baldy

Thru Hiker
Sooo,
a question for the more legally minded.

If someone was to take Oookworks onboard with the idea of producing custom inners for bog standard tents. For example i would like a solid inner for my MSR hubba nx.
Would the big companies want to put a stop?

thanks.
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Sooo,
a question for the more legally minded.

If someone was to take Oookworks onboard with the idea of producing custom inners for bog standard tents. For example i would like a solid inner for my MSR hubba nx.
Would the big companies want to put a stop?

thanks.
I'm no authority, but I can't see how they could... It's like buying aftermarket non OME parts/accessories for a car or anything else...
They would be MSR Hubba NX compatible... It's not like youd be selling as the original equipment... It's an aftermarket replacement or accessory.
 

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
Am not that legally minded, but a patent is only for a specific item that lasts for a certain time period. If you are not making a direct copy of an item inside that period, then are you breaking any patent laws? I would think not.
Edit: Am not even sure you could patent an inner, it would have some new innovative approach to it, to have something special in it's make up to be able to patent it I would think.
 
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JKM

Thru Hiker
I don't believe you can patent a tent any more than you can the cut of a piece of clothing.
Hence the trailstar copies etc. It's just a piece of fabric, all tent makers can protect is their brand, not the shape.
 

Padstowe

Thru Hiker
I'd agree, I think only some new attachment/pegging method or corner strut maybe could be patented, not the tent itself.
edit: I could be wrong, but did vango patent their internal TBS system?
 

Balagan

Thru Hiker
There is nothing anyone can do if you decide to manufacture a solid inner compatible with an MSR or Massdrop tent, as long as you do not attempt to deceive the purchaser into thinking it is made by the tent's manufacturer. Complaining in a YouTube video is about the sum of it.

Beware of any tent manufacturer's claim of "patent" or "patent pending", it's usually bull manure as you can neither patent nor copyright a tent. You can try to patent a specific technical feature (usually something innovative and silly to do with erecting the tent), copyright your logo and trademark a name but that's about it.

Vango's patent claim for the TBS looks like it's the usual bubble of hot air (it's been considered withdrawn for nearly 20 years now):

20200507_072952.jpg
 
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Mole

Thru Hiker
Just like to say.

It's Sean. Not Shaun.

I was in contact online a LOT, and in physical person several times right from the start of oookworks for a couple of years.
Whilst his designs and workmanship are very good...
His business issues were all to do with him and his way of managing cash flow. And his own issues. From day 1. Believe me.


BTW. Chinese mids and inners availability were at least 5 years in the future. (apart from Luxe maybe)
 
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Padstowe

Thru Hiker
Cost of cheaper material & cost of cheaper labour.
Many companies have moved to China or there abouts for increased profit due to the cheap cost of labour compared to employment in their home countries where the wage is more & may have benefits to pay also.
You wouldn't think this though since their price doesn't drop to show the difference.
 

Enzo

Thru Hiker
.
 

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cathyjc

Thru Hiker
Treat workers like ****.
Use cheap materials.
Don't do R&D.

And peg your currency at an unfeasibly low level against the US dollar.
That won't go on for ever and some day we will have for pay more realistic prices for Chinese made goods …..
 

TinTin

Thru Hiker
Nope.
But i think there is a market here for custom inners, packs etc.
The Chinese market is encouraged by YOU LOT :D who buy cheap knock offs.
I won't.
I don't think that we buy cheap knock offs instead of more expensive gear more like as well! Its the less gearophile who just buy cheap knocks offs that are to blame. :)
 
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