An interesting parallel regarding patents is starting to rage in the guitar amp industry. A writer/inventor of tube guitar amps has published many revolutionary books (full of schematics and new ideas on using/tweaking stock circuits, etc.), and patents have been granted by big manufacturers on these published circuits afterwards! There are also some really, really stoopid patents granted for 50 year old circuits from RCA applications manuals.
Well, this same amp builder (Kevin O'Connor @ Londow Power) has designed a very unique way of 'power scaling' the output section of a tube guitar amp (so you can get the sound of the output tubes overdriving at low sound levels) that really works well. The details are fully described in his books. He came out with a book recently called 'Secrets and Secret Holders' which blew me away. In a nutshell, it seems he was more or less forced to look into a protection patent, probably before some big company (who read all his design books) patented the method of 'power scaling'. But, if he didn't want to go that route, he was advised he could make darn sure his stuff was 'really' in the public domain. I personally believe that is why he published this particular book. The author describes fully the scaling circuitry and methods (reads more or less like a patent application) in one part of the book, so it's ensured that anyone could use this method of power scaling for new amp design without having to worry. Very, very cool! Very 'open source'!
He then analyses several patents relating to guitar amp circuitry/design. It is concluded that for some of them the patents should not have been granted and would likely be overturned if challenged (it is not a recommendation though heheh). Due to the nature of the technology, it is easier to do the same thing another way sometimes rather than go to court it seems. Some of these patents mentioned here are laughable ('cept I'm not laughing). Also, it is mentioned that some patents may actually get the holders into deep doo-doo if challenged since there is a law of some sort in the US regarding 'patenting silly things'.
The biggest action lately in the amp industry is digital modelling and solid state tube amp emulation. There are some pretty silly patents going on here boy; a lot of 'obvious' things are being patented for both technologies. Weird....sad.
I admire his commitment to knowledge, freedom of ideas, and the spirit of competition.
Ah well, check out:
The amp makers site (read the blurb about Secrets and Secret Holders on the publications link!):
http://www.londonpower.com
Another recommended 'open source' amp maker/techie guy (check out the Patents link):
http://www.aikenamps.com/
Patent search:
http://www.delphion.com/
Check out: http://sdk.web3d.org/resources/mpeg-4/index.html (the multiuser.zip is interesting) and http://sdk.web3d.org for some interesting tidbits. Seems MPEG4 also incorporates specs for the streaming of virtual worlds, while I am under the impression VRML is being phased into the.X3D format...
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An interesting parallel regarding patents is starting to rage in the guitar amp industry. A writer/inventor of tube guitar amps has published many revolutionary books (full of schematics and new ideas on using/tweaking stock circuits, etc.), and patents have been granted by big manufacturers on these published circuits afterwards! There are also some really, really stoopid patents granted for 50 year old circuits from RCA applications manuals. Well, this same amp builder (Kevin O'Connor @ Londow Power) has designed a very unique way of 'power scaling' the output section of a tube guitar amp (so you can get the sound of the output tubes overdriving at low sound levels) that really works well. The details are fully described in his books. He came out with a book recently called 'Secrets and Secret Holders' which blew me away. In a nutshell, it seems he was more or less forced to look into a protection patent, probably before some big company (who read all his design books) patented the method of 'power scaling'. But, if he didn't want to go that route, he was advised he could make darn sure his stuff was 'really' in the public domain. I personally believe that is why he published this particular book. The author describes fully the scaling circuitry and methods (reads more or less like a patent application) in one part of the book, so it's ensured that anyone could use this method of power scaling for new amp design without having to worry. Very, very cool! Very 'open source'! He then analyses several patents relating to guitar amp circuitry/design. It is concluded that for some of them the patents should not have been granted and would likely be overturned if challenged (it is not a recommendation though heheh). Due to the nature of the technology, it is easier to do the same thing another way sometimes rather than go to court it seems. Some of these patents mentioned here are laughable ('cept I'm not laughing). Also, it is mentioned that some patents may actually get the holders into deep doo-doo if challenged since there is a law of some sort in the US regarding 'patenting silly things'. The biggest action lately in the amp industry is digital modelling and solid state tube amp emulation. There are some pretty silly patents going on here boy; a lot of 'obvious' things are being patented for both technologies. Weird....sad. I admire his commitment to knowledge, freedom of ideas, and the spirit of competition. Ah well, check out: The amp makers site (read the blurb about Secrets and Secret Holders on the publications link!): http://www.londonpower.com Another recommended 'open source' amp maker/techie guy (check out the Patents link): http://www.aikenamps.com/ Patent search: http://www.delphion.com/
Check out: http://sdk.web3d.org/resources/mpeg-4/index.html (the multiuser .zip is interesting) and http://sdk.web3d.org for some interesting tidbits. Seems MPEG4 also incorporates specs for the streaming of virtual worlds, while I am under the impression VRML is being phased into the .X3D format...