Hank Grizzly
New member
So how do the copyright laws towards schematics, parts, PCB, and everything work with pedals?
Copyright laws
- Thread starter Hank Grizzly
- Start date
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Copyright laws
Who would patent basic circuits??
That are textbook stuff for the beginner in electronics.
(the large percentage that it is)
There is nothing there worth the money of a patent, nor are they anywhere sophisticated enough for that!
Who would patent basic circuits??
That are textbook stuff for the beginner in electronics.
(the large percentage that it is)
There is nothing there worth the money of a patent, nor are they anywhere sophisticated enough for that!
Re: Copyright laws
Schematics originally done by the manufacturer would of course be copyright to the manufacturer, as would PCB layout.
However, if you were to trace out the circuit, and reproduce it with your own PCB layout, the circuit diagram and PCB you made would be copyright to you.
Schematics originally done by the manufacturer would of course be copyright to the manufacturer, as would PCB layout.
However, if you were to trace out the circuit, and reproduce it with your own PCB layout, the circuit diagram and PCB you made would be copyright to you.
Hank Grizzly
New member
Re: Copyright laws
How much would I have to do to get rid of the copyright of the schematic? Would it be a resistor here, capacitor there, few extra switches and transistor equivalent, or a complete redesign?
How much would I have to do to get rid of the copyright of the schematic? Would it be a resistor here, capacitor there, few extra switches and transistor equivalent, or a complete redesign?
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Copyright laws
What the rest of the already very very overcrowded world of pedal makers are doing....
Taking a spin on an old cake!
What the rest of the already very very overcrowded world of pedal makers are doing....
Taking a spin on an old cake!
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Copyright laws
as long as the headstocks are different you should be fine
as long as the headstocks are different you should be fine
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Copyright laws
Oh even if the circuit itself is free to use - making a drawing does of course have copyright on the drawing. As idiotic as this sounds, the patents on the circuit expire at a fraction of the time that copyright expires at. Hello and thanks Senator Disney!
You can make your own drawing of the same circuit and distribute that. Don't copy any fluff like logos which are of course trademarks.
Oh even if the circuit itself is free to use - making a drawing does of course have copyright on the drawing. As idiotic as this sounds, the patents on the circuit expire at a fraction of the time that copyright expires at. Hello and thanks Senator Disney!
You can make your own drawing of the same circuit and distribute that. Don't copy any fluff like logos which are of course trademarks.
Last edited:
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Copyright laws
Made me think of the thread on TGP about cloning a super hard on, that's why I asked.
Made me think of the thread on TGP about cloning a super hard on, that's why I asked.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: Copyright laws
Yeah...don't mind the crackle....solid engineering fa' suh!
Yeah...don't mind the crackle....solid engineering fa' suh!
GLJazz
New member
Re: Copyright laws
I've always found that funny how he makes excuses for the popping. You pay extra for that...
I did a fair amount of research on this subject. Since the circuits ARE so simple, the only copyrights these pedals fall under are for art. Therefore, an exact PCB layout is art, and cannot be copied. however, if you put a zigzag in a single trace, it becomes your art and is fair game, regardless of components.
As mentioned above, obviously you can't take a manufacturer's schematic and call it your own, or use an exact switch and box layout (art) but as long as you come up with your own flavor for the PCB layout and housing you should be okay.
Screwy how these things work, huh? No wonder amp makers are gooping their circuits now...
I've always found that funny how he makes excuses for the popping. You pay extra for that...I did a fair amount of research on this subject. Since the circuits ARE so simple, the only copyrights these pedals fall under are for art. Therefore, an exact PCB layout is art, and cannot be copied. however, if you put a zigzag in a single trace, it becomes your art and is fair game, regardless of components.
As mentioned above, obviously you can't take a manufacturer's schematic and call it your own, or use an exact switch and box layout (art) but as long as you come up with your own flavor for the PCB layout and housing you should be okay.
Screwy how these things work, huh? No wonder amp makers are gooping their circuits now...
