Always glad to help where I can!@Tim S thanks for that!
Consulting an attorney before starting such a business may save you some peace of mind (and, perhaps, money).I run a website called HallmanLabs.com and one of my most viewed articles is my BillM Modded Fender Blues Jr. I have had readers asking me how to source the BillM mods that I am showing on the site. This leaves me, with a question!
If BillM passed (did he?) and his son, Andrew, is no longer filling orders. Is there any reason I can not start to, at the very least, produce his Clean Boost board? I could design my own and hope to match Bill's design, but do I need to? I feel like he nailed it (on cost & size vs performance) and I don't currently have the time to try and top BillM (which is a tall task, on that PCB footprint).
Legally, can I copy (most of) the design and then sell a slightly modified version of these Clean Boost modules? I am going to reach out to Andrew, for official permission. If he doesn't reply back, which it sounds like he may not (based on FB), could I proceed anyway? I have a BillM Boost Module on hand (to reference) and I am familiar with multi-layer PCB design. In other words, I am in a great position to offer these boards to the public, but do not want to step on any toes.
(I am currently a Senior in Computer Systems Engineering)
Would you bet your business and personal assets on that? Without legal advice to fallback on, that’s what you would be doing. (I’m not a lawyer either, but I’ve seen others do very unpredictable things when business & money are involved)I am not a lawyer (thank God) but I have been told that circuits can't be copyrighted and the thriving pedal clone business seems to support that.
Of course not. I'm not an idiot.Would you bet your business and personal assets on that? Without legal advice to fallback on, that’s what you would be doing. (I’m not a lawyer either, but I’ve seen others do very unpredictable things when business & money are involved)
I run a website called HallmanLabs.com and one of my most viewed articles is my BillM Modded Fender Blues Jr. I have had readers asking me how to source the BillM mods that I am showing on the site. This leaves me, with a question!
If BillM passed (did he?) and his son, Andrew, is no longer filling orders. Is there any reason I can not start to, at the very least, produce his Clean Boost board? I could design my own and hope to match Bill's design, but do I need to? I feel like he nailed it (on cost & size vs performance) and I don't currently have the time to try and top BillM (which is a tall task, on that PCB footprint).
Legally, can I copy (most of) the design and then sell a slightly modified version of these Clean Boost modules? I am going to reach out to Andrew, for official permission. If he doesn't reply back, which it sounds like he may not (based on FB), could I proceed anyway? I have a BillM Boost Module on hand (to reference) and I am familiar with multi-layer PCB design. In other words, I am in a great position to offer these boards to the public, but do not want to step on any toes.
(I am currently a Senior in Computer Systems Engineering)