How Open Source Hardware Is Kick-Starting Kickstarter

Posted by Soulskill on Friday October 21, 2011 @04:20AM from the somebody-out-there-needs-an-inboard-outboard-toaster dept.

ptorrone writes "Imagine waking up and seeing your design for a circuit being used in a product by someone who never contacted you to ask if it was okay. You will not get any payment for their usage of your design, they've raised over $31,000, and they're selling something you worked really hard on. You have no control over what someone does with something you made. Is this a nightmare? Perhaps for some, but this is actually a dream come true for others who do open-source hardware. MAKE magazine profiles a maker using open-source hardware for his now-funded project and looks at others using open hardware for their works."

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Re:Thjis is why you patent by Eunuchswear · 2011-10-21 04:51 · Score: 5, Insightful

If your idea is unique enough to get a patent, patent it. Not everybody who can invent wants to run a company.
Not everyone who can invent is a selfish git.

that as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and this we should do freely and generously

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Watch this Heartland Institute video