Unlike patents and designs it does not expire- but can be renewed forever. A trademark is a badge of origin: it indicates the source of goods. Trademarks however are a different matter. If it is true that BT sold 99 out of every 100 Atomics then I would argue they had their reward also. Mr Robbiati and Mr Stern had their rewards. And we should remember the inventor or designer enjoys a long Monopoly while it lasts. If the law was not structured in such a way many great designs would wither away and disappear, which would be a great shame. It is the same design as the Herman Miller version but it cost a 10th of the price. I personally think this is a great thing and I am sitting on an Eames office chair right now. There is nothing wrong with this as long as they are appropriately labeled, and there is no attempt to pass them off as someone elses product. Such items should not be described as fakes or knock-offs- but as reproductions. In other words we are all free today to make Model T Fords, Frisbees, Eames Office Chairs, and the like. Registered designs work in a similar fashion. However there is a price: in return for the statutory monopoly when the fixed term has lapsed the patent expires and enters the public domain where all may make use of it. She is afforded a statutory monopoly in the invention for a fixed period. It is a delicate balancing act.Īn inventor Patents her invention. It is intended to promote innovation and avoid monopolies whilst simultaneously protecting the intellectual property rights of the designer or inventor. There is a social compact underpinning the patent legislation. Of particular interest to the Atomic is the issue of Patents and Designs.Īs we have seen in this thread the Atomic was a patented machine. Such statements stem from a misconception of the law. And this is not just CCR, but others with no connection to BT. Others have suggested that Bon Trading owns the rights to the atomic design. Sometime people have characterised the Otto and La Sorrentina coffee makers as rip-offs or knock-offs or fakes of the genuine Atomic. The truth of the matter is there is a good deal of confusion in the broader community concerning trademarks, patents, designs and copyright. I think the recent part of this thread is interesting because it goes to issues of intellectual property in general. This thread is devoted to the Atomic and those that love it. Now we can get back to the main discussion- without having to waste our time dealing with biased and unreliable information.
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