I was going threw the "Ya Heard Me" thread and I saw this.
http://www.wakevideo.com/wsv/images/Products/Details/LatchL.jpg I was like WTF some jack mo copied my LCD mirror. So in a bitter search, I looked up his link and checked out his website
http://www.wakevideo.com/wsv/showVisor.cfm and I see he totally gives me prop's for copying the mirror and even go's as far as putting a link to sound illusion’s and then even says if you want the "bling version"(the orignal carbon fiber LCD mirrior) of what he is selling check us out. I think that pretty stand up. I think most people would copy your stuff and then just ignore/deny that fact that they copied your Idea. Remember "Vanilla Ice" saying his song was completely different that the original Queen song he copied, we all knew it wasn’t and just laughed at him for the clown pants and hair but more for the fact that he was in denial.
I’m big on the slogan "Innovate Not Imitate" I would rather someone raise the bar by taking your idea and making it better. I think that’s what innovation is all about and what makes everything in our sport/world better. I think he has some what innovated buy making it affordable and avaibale to the masses, something my product is not.
I think someone honor’s you in a weird way by copying your idea. It makes it worth it when they give you a "Thank you" or they tip their hat @ you for the idea. I respect that and apperciate that. Do you think the big 3 would ever give you credit for anything they saw you come up with? HELL NO.
I don’t patten my idea's or product's and infact I even show people how to do it for them self's. Maybe I’m stupid but I would rather spend my time coming out with something new than spend my time trying to protect an older design. Yes I am stupid. But I certainly respect and understand people that protect their products with paten’s ect. IMO I don’t think that there is that much money to be made in this business, and that most people do it because they love the sport and more importantly for the people they meet along the way. So IMO if you are cut throat and do business the "Vanilla Ice" way then IMO your going to have no friend's and I guess then all your out for is the money and like I said I don’t think that’s allot so then all your left with is????? Well you get the point. I have met so many cool people threw this sport and I think the greatest pay back is to feel like you have had a positive impact on the sport and more importantly the people with in it. So Cheer's to all.