Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 16:38:45 -1000 From: gaffer@ibmpcug.co.uk (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organiszation Subject: Licence to build proposal Marty Sasaki wrote: >auster@iitb.fhg.de (Patrick Austermann) writes: >>I am thinking of building a "Synergy Deca" clone with >>Skyshark IIIp spars and 1/2 oz = 31g Icarex. >>Does anybody have any information on "bridle" - >>measurments or even a plan ? >The Deca is a truly unique kite and I think that the folks at >Guildworks deserve to get the credit (and the money) for their hard >work and innovation. I strongly agree with Marty that the designers deserve the cash and kudos. On the other hand, there is a small but important part of the kite community who would rather build the kite than buy it, for different reasons (eg: to have their own custom graphics, for the simple satisfaction of building their own kit, to try out a variation or simply to save money). I would like to see a manufacturer such as Guildworks sell a plan, together with a licence to build one kite. They could include a label to attatch saying "This kite built under licence...". If sold directly by the manufacturer (anyone in the market for this is likely to know who they are and how to reach them...), they might be able to sell for a reasonable price and maintain the same profit as they make selling a whole kite... Any of the manufacturers out there care to comment? Andrew -- This is not the account that I usually Email from. Please continue to use my usual addresses, thankyou: Work, computer stuff, demands for payment -> gaffer@rec.com Play, kite stuff, party invites, offers of Pizza -> andrew@tug.com = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 06:56:14 -1000 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Message-Id: <32dl7f$6ns@umd5.umd.edu> Organization: University of Maryland, College Park Subject: Re: Licence to build proposal In article gaffer@ibmpcug.co.uk (Andrew Beattie) writes: >I would like to see a manufacturer such as Guildworks sell >a plan, together with a licence to build one kite. They could include >a label to attatch saying "This kite built under licence...". I love this idea, and have hoped for similar arrangements in the past. My only concern is with the fact that it's very easy to make a kite that doesn't fly the way it should. When a manufacturer licenses somebody to build a kite (and carry that kite's name), it's after being assured that the kite will be built correctly. Personally, I wouldn't want somebody to build a kite I'd designed, botch the job, and then tell everybody "Yeah, this is an ." Talk about an easy way to lose sales! As it is, I've always been sure to disclaim my knock-offs as such, so that folks don't assume that my kites perform like typical examples of their sources. That's not to say that I don't build kites that perform well. In fact, I'd *much* rather fly one of my custom Revs than one produced by the Hadzicki's, and it's as important to make that known as well -- to make sure folks are warned that a custom kite may out-perform a stock kite. With single line kites, the performance issue is probably less important. Of course, with single liners, it seems that the plans are more likely to be published anyway... Jeff (about to start another FlowForm...) -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | "Everything is still with a fear of never coming out | |Suffering Bad Grammar| Never following through / Never ever finishing | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | What we wanted to do." -- Melissa Ferrick | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 06:11:04 -1000 From: crowell@teleport.com (Carl Crowell) Message-Id: Organization: Kites By Carl Crowell Subject: Re: Licence to build proposal >I strongly agree with Marty that the designers deserve the cash and kudos. >On the other hand, there is a small but important part of the kite >community who would rather build the kite than buy it, for different >reasons (eg: to have their own custom graphics, for the simple satisfaction >of building their own kit, to try out a variation or simply to save >money). I would like to see a manufacturer such as Guildworks sell >a plan, together with a licence to build one kite. They could include >a label to attatch saying "This kite built under licence...". >Any of the manufacturers out there care to comment? For what it is worth... I received an issue of the KBI newsletter. On the cover was a clone of a George Peters kite. My first coment to myself was, "George is really slipping". No offence to the folks that put in the time and effort to make the kite, but it is not up to what I would expect from George. Not to long ago I made the effort to hire people to sew for me. People with twenty years and more experience sewing could not make my kites. Around this time i came to the realization that no one could make my kites but me. Others have tried, and sometimes what they produce is very similar, but the kites are most definately not mine. I do not mind people building kites based on my designs. BUT: they should not ever use this kite for public or private gain. ie: they should not enter compitions, teach how to build them, sell them, allow for the reproduction of the likeness in anyway without giving full credit to the designer. I would not ever licence anyone else to build my kites. I have been asked, and when I saw samples of the proposed product, I would have been embarased to see my name on it. If you really feel the need to build your own revolution, or SynDeca, I sugest that you go and buy one first. Take the one you bought apart, build a new sail using the parts of the purchased one. As far as i know, this is a legal method of designing your own graphics and or version of an existing kite and at the same time not violating copyright laws. Maybe someone that actually knows can follow up on this.... I do not know which is worse, someone claiming to have a kite built by me that was not, or claiming to have built a kite that I actually made. i have had both happen. carl = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 11 Aug 1994 20:44:50 -1000 From: Thom Shanken Message-Id: Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice) Subject: Re: Licence to build proposal Carl Crowell writes: >I do not mind people building kites based on my designs. BUT: they should >not ever use this kite for public or private gain. ie: they should not enter >compitions, teach how to build them, sell them, allow for the reproduction of >the likeness in anyway without giving full credit to the designer. > >I would not ever licence anyone else to build my kites. I have been asked, >and when I saw samples of the proposed product, I would have been embarased to >see my name on it. I can't resist putting in my two cents here, and have to agree with Carl. It is very hard (if not impossible) for any kite designer/builder to emulate the work of another. It is for this reason that I am more than happy to share my individual design concepts - but not my kites. On the subject of licensing, because of the above mentioned disparity, I do not think that it would be a very good idea. I would, however, suggest the concept of a book or newsletter drawn from the SUBMITTED plans and ideas of various designer/builders. A slight "aside" here: Thank you Carl for your quick response to my request for flow form 125 plans. Scott could not believe that he asked me to post a request one evening and I was able to give him your reply the following morning!....ALL HAIL THE "POWER" OF THE N Keep 'em Flying! Thom :) (thomshanken@delphi.com) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =