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Re: Re: How do these interests differ?


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Posted by M. Arthur Auslander on October 26, 1999 at 04:30:22:

In Reply to: Re: How do these interests differ? posted by TEMPLE BELFIELD on October 25, 1999 at 19:55:12:

: : Party (A) creates a “toolbox” of innovative, visual/graphical tools for data-driven manufacturing/quality improvement. Collectively these tools are called "Production-Friendly Data Tools" (TM). Their common thread is a characteristic, innovative use of color, space, and symbols to greatly enhance the information that can be encoded into more traditional, standard plots and charts. Parties (B) and (C) pay to learn these tools through a seminar offered by (A).

: : (B) is a manufacturing engineer who wishes to use these tools in his company’s plant(s).

: : (C) is a consultant who wishes to learn these innovations, call them something else, and market them for his own gain.

: : To what extent does intellectual property law protect (A)? How are the interests of (B) and (C) different?

: : Stephen Rowe, Ph.D.
: : Tri-State Quality Manufacturing Network
: : Author Of The "Production-Friendly Data Tools" (TM) Series and Inventor Of The Exciting "Gravity-Curvature Response Surface Simulator" (TM)
: : Industrial Statistician [training and consulting]
: : tsqmn@asqnet.org
: : (219) 495-2093
It looks as if A has no protection unless there is a patent. There is no other protection for the "idea", particuarly if there was a seminar to which B and C legitimately attended. If the tools are written, drawn or coded then the tools are registerable as a copyright. The copyright does not protect the "idea" only the expression. A's trademark or service mark may be registerable. There may be a problem in registration becasue of descriptivenesss. A might have had a written agreement with B and C to divulge the system as a trade secret and to licence the use of the trade secret with restrictions mutually agreed upon.
The difference between B and C is that B wants to use the information commercially and C wants to teach the information. C may be limited if C tries to "pass off" the information under A's trademark or service mark. C using a different trademark or service mark is home free without the passing off.
A might have taught and has an agreement to get credit for what was created. A might have sought early legal advice before getting into trouble.
M. Arthur Auslander
E arly L egal A dvice I s N ot E xpensive
ELAINE's Workshop (sm):
Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909
505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com




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