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Have JOBO's patents in the meantime expired or are we actually dealing with product pirates ?

Beverly Hills

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Have a look :



.........it doesn't look that bad, the question is : What about JOBO ?
 
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What patents?
....Well, I roughly remember that there used to be something like brand protection.... !
You might like those green crocodile polo shirts ?
But as soon as another company comes up with the idea of selling such shirts with green dinosaurs, wich is only a little similar to the green crocodile logo, the company gets claims
for damages. And JOBO will also have aplied for some patents at some point...?
 
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What patents?

As noted by the OP: Are they stealing the design or do they pay royalties? Would you like your intellectual and business work ripped off?
 
OK... but it looks like very close......

This is a copy. If you look at the reels they combine Jobo, Paterson and AP designs. Out of curiosity I bought one of these reels when eTone started selling them. At that time the reels were like $10 with free shipping from China. I contacted the seller directly to ask to return, I was refunded my money. The reels were very loose, poor fit.

Others may have had better luck but I would not recommend.
 

You’re confusing trademarks and patents.

So, based upon your response, you’re not aware of any actual patents.
 
The term of a patent begins on the date that the patent issues and ends on the date 20 years from when it was filed in the US.

Jobo patents were granted in 1983.

But that is not all...patents are only good in the country they are issued in. A US patent on an invention, and there is not also a Canadian one, somone can copy your invention and offer it for sale in Canada.

Folks were discussing 'counterfeit' Jobo stuff back in 2016.
 
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You’re confusing trademarks and patents.

So, based upon your response, you’re not aware of any actual patents.
...from my point there is a trademark protection ( the brand "JOBO", the design ( something that look almost the same )
but I believe there must also have been a patent at least one.

The modular construction, the closure of the modules that keeps the tank together watertight.
These special functions that are not avaible (with the same
technique ) anywhere else to my knowlege will have been patentable earlier.
( the tank cap will certainly not have been patentable, because this does not include sufficent inovation )

But the modul look justifies a patent request, at least in my
opinion.

But that will be a few decades ago and the question would be whether this JOBO PATENT ....could have expired...?
 
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The term of a patent begins on the date that the patent issues and ends on the date 20 years from when it was filed in the US.

Jobo patents were granted in 1983.

...aha - so I could make a contract with a chinese manufakturer and would be allowed to rebuild
"all the worlds JOBO stuff "?

The only thing I would have to consider is that the logos
differ significantely, as well as the typeface, and the color
( I could also design the tank in yellow with black stripes
...and call the tank : WASP 320 - for 320 ml )

...

because something like brand protection is still being asked to prevent confusion..............!

Have a nice time
 
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There is an action in the IP world referred to as a "passing off" action.
You sue for that if you are alleging that someone is trying to pass off one thing as another.
It is in the nature of a fraud claim.
It has absolutely nothing to do with patents.
The badging on that product is a bit iffy, but otherwise I don't see any claim that that stuff actually is JOBO or that it can be used interchangeably with JOBO.
 
These are typical "knockoffs" people after quality will seek out the original.

...good point msnchem !

.....but the new kids on the block are chronically underfinanced and they still have to spend so much money
on films. Have you looked at the prices at JOBO lately?
...damn expensive now!

People : save lots of money and buy :

W A S P .

......darkroom equipment !.....!
 
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Where are you finding these articles? Ebay?
 
Having a few patents IMHO patents are for lawyers to litigate. They are also very expensive to obtain. The companies I worked for filed the patents (in numerous countries) and beside a small pittance and a free meal I receive nothing. Which is OK by me (it was a vary good meal). Most companies files patents not to develop a product but to receive royalties in case someone else wants to spend the money to develop the actual product. There are some great stories about how a company would steal a patent filed by a small individual, make millions, and fight it in court until the patent holder died. Only one I can think of right now is the Sears Ratchet with Quick Socket release. After twenty or more years (and lots, and lots of legal fees) the patent holder prevailed only to die soon afterwards. The good news was he won in court and his heirs received a small fortune from Sears.
 

Thank you beemermark for this info !


So there is still law and order... ...



I thought it's going to be like Dodge City everywhere now....