This subject pops up on this and other lists from time to time and I have resisted writing this type of email but I believe that in this world of "experimental" we should understand that intellectual property "IP" is just that "property" and it is subject to the rules of law of the various jurisdiction's.
First: I need to point out that I am not a lawyer and I do not play one on TV. However, I do review IP and spend most of my working hours in discussions with various IP attorneys as part of my job function for an aerospace corporation. Second: I am an airplane addict. I fly, I build and one day I will finish what I am building. Previously unfinished projects include: Baby Ace, BD5, Flybaby and now an orphaned KR2. Third: I am very grateful for the wisdom and knowledge that is shared on this network and others as well as websites that educates me in my areas of interest which is currently a KR with a Corvair. Now my rant which I hope does not backfire because if it does then all of the great sources of information will suddenly go away and I will be forced to learn about belly boards, new airfoils, safety shafts and 5th bearings on my own and I am sure that the KR will end up like my other projects . Which would be in some form of un-airworthyness. So here goes... When some organization or individual has a great idea they can basically choose to do one of three things with that idea. 1) Keep it to themselves (Secret) or share it with the public or seek some form of protection for the concepts of the idea for a limited time this protection is granted so that creative individuals will share their knowledge this is what a patent and IP is all about. When some one applies for and is granted IP (intellectual property) protection by virtue of a patent, trademark, copyright or other method they have rights to prevent others from using that property without that persons permission. What is unfortunate about this situation is that the burden for identifying the potential misuse of that person's property rests with that person. Big brother DOES NOT police IP for us. What this means is that Ms Rand (assuming she owns the rights to the KR builder manuals) has the responsibility to keep track of what is going on in the world of cheep copies of this material. Same goes for WW and others who produce and claim a copyright and want to have some control. Similar statements could be made for patents and Trademarks. What really stinks is that it costs time and money to police IP and even more time and money to seek redress for damages via the courts. What it boils down to is that often it is JUST NOT WORTH IT. Considering the small numbers of individuals that are doing this type of "ripping off of others IP" the equation of cost vs. reward for the IP owner is often not favorable. What can we do IMHO: 1) Be thankful for people who are willing to share their experience and knowledge with others at what really is little or no cost. 2) Where we believe we see misuse of others IP (such as the ebay listing) contact the IP owner and let them know. They can chose how they want to deal with it. If you want to contact Ebay feel free but any real resolution to the problem will need to start with the IP owner. BTW the location on this Ebayer was Brazil... Who knows what the laws in that jurisdiction are 3) Be honest ourselves. If we want to copy something,,, do what MaMa taught us. ASK FIRST my experience has been that when I ask I have never been turned down and often I get more help or assistance than I expected. Remember that most of us who have been afflicted with the experimental bug are really great guys and gals. 4) Be willing to pay for something even if the "info" is free. In looking at the concepts for 5th bearings there is no way I could develop or copy any of these ideas for under $3K with my skill and resources. When I can find a reference to what the costs may be for these possible fixes the price tag appears that it will be much less. Dan Weseman even offers to loan you the tools to install his version of a 5th bearing for just a refundable deposit. I hope that this is not taken the wrong way. I am NOT supporting the type of thing in the Ebay listing. One way of not supporting this is via not buying it. I know that this seller will likely sell a few copies of this stuff. However I do not think that any real builder of a KR will likely be a purchaser. Don't even get me started talking about use of others IP for "experimental use or archiving". Thanks again to all those who have or are going before me. BTW as Oct-16-08 10:38:37 PDT someone hit the buy it now I sure hope it wasn't a true builder Gary Shubert Connecticut N325JG - One day a KR 2 but now in the boat and spar stage with 3 Vair engines to choose from
