Re: Knock-off?

Subject: Re: Re: Knock-off?

Comments:
: : I am a general corporate lawyer with a healthcare client that has developed software for a palm pilot to be used by physicians. The navigational specs are modeled after an existing product. The "look" of the programs are much the same, but the content and software are unique. : : When using the program, the user will see the same identical screen layouts. In other words, the back and home buttons, drop down menus, and search functions are identically seen and functional to the user as with the other product. : : Does this raise a patent infringement issue? : It might if the competitor holds patent rights that protect the "look & feel" of the software user interface. : Why don't you ask your corporate counsel to perform a search to determine if the competitor holds patent, TM, and/or copyrights to the product in question? (you can also perform a *preliminary* check of the USPTO databases to see if your competitor is the assignee of patents, and/or TMs - check the Library of Congress for copyrights). : A preliminary search would be fairly inexpensive. : An analysis of anything found will very likely cost you more. : Mike

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