Question for amp builders regarding patent

[shaka]

I was looking at some Fender Champ and Deluxe schematics today and noticed that some of the schematics had patents attached to them while others didn't. The older amps tended to not have patents while the newer stuff had patents.

Is this the reason why amp kit companies concentrate on the old Champs vs. the Blackface champs?

What about the Deluxe vs. the Deluxe Reverb?

I'm confused about what designs are protected and what designs are ok to replicate.

 

[scottish]

Re: Question for amp builders regarding patent

i think patents expire after 20 years and then the technology becomes public, however im not 100% sure though. if you are looking to build one for yourself, then i think its ok to copy circuits as long as you dont profit from it. again however, not 100% sure on that

 

[shaka]

Re: Question for amp builders regarding patent

i think patents expire after 20 years and then the technology becomes public, however im not 100% sure though. if you are looking to build one for yourself, then i think its ok to copy circuits as long as you dont profit from it. again however, not 100% sure on that

Can't patents be renewed? What about all the manufacturers that do profit from amps?

 

[Curly]

Re: Question for amp builders regarding patent

on tweed amps, the circuits were licensed from AT&T and Western Electric, as noted on the tube charts

it seems unlikely that they could patent schematics for circuits that were not their property

and yes, I think that's one reason F ---- has not gone after tweed cloners

the irony is that many feel those are the best sounding amps ever

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Question for amp builders regarding patent

and yes, I think that's one reason F ---- has not gone after tweed cloners

A fellow named Marshall would be on the top of that list.:cool2: Tube amp circuitry is at the bottom of the food chain in todays electronics. Nobody is gonna get rich cloning tweeds. If so, Fender would be cloning them.:scratchch

 

[Jeff Seal]

Re: Question for amp builders regarding patent

As a general whole, unless you blatantly copy a current design in production, patent laws will usually not apply... I have 18 current patents for numerous devices, but they are filed in a manner to apply to a larger market, not merely guitar amps..

Truely "new" ideas are far and few between and I have many, but even some of those are based on a reconfiguration of "existing" technology. "Mouse Trap" philosophy is centuries old, building a better one requires a little re-thinking...

Jeff