What Do You All Do When You Find Someone Is Copying Your Product?

[RogueIndustries]

On 1/29/2018 at 2:45 PM, nstarleather said:

If you're sure they're not making it I wouldn't worry.  I haven't seen much in the leatherworking world that's unique enough to claim a patent on, with one exception:

On several occasions I've been asked to make a font pocket wallet like the Rogue wallet, after looking around the net, I found nobody else selling a wallet with that little pointy end.  Personally I think it's silly anyway (just an extra bit of leather that really doesn't do much), but since I couldn't find anybody doing anything remotely similar, I've figured that they probably do fight anybody they see infringing on their idea.  That being said...the idea may not be "patentable,"  but it wouldn't be worth the legal fight. 

Hi Nstarleather, 

Wells over at Rogue Industries here. We really appreciate you not copying our wallet. We do have two valid patents on the front pocket wallet, and you're correct, when we see a big company knock off our design (with hundreds or thousands of infringing units) we go after them. 

While most leatherworking isn't patentable, copyright law will protect a lot of creative designs.

 

[RogueIndustries]

Thanks, Mike. No offense taken! We try to not take ourselves too seriously around here. The shape isn't for everyone, in fact we've had plenty of customers ask us for front pocket wallets with the curved edge (to match the pant pocket shape) but without the points, so your hunch was right on.

I once had a waitress ask me why I was carrying an "elf-ear" wallet. She let me know she'd seen them before and she didn't like 'em.  Thought it was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen in fact...

 

[NVLeatherWorx]

On 1/29/2018 at 11:45 AM, nstarleather said:

On several occasions I've been asked to make a font pocket wallet like the Rogue wallet, after looking around the net, I found nobody else selling a wallet with that little pointy end.  Personally I think it's silly anyway (just an extra bit of leather that really doesn't do much), but since I couldn't find anybody doing anything remotely similar, I've figured that they probably do fight anybody they see infringing on their idea.  That being said...the idea may not be "patentable,"  but it wouldn't be worth the legal fight. 

That Rogue Wallet design is not anything new; Tandy Leather had this in their line-up a few years back (even before the Minimalist movement) and it is now available as a downloadable PDF from their Leathercraft Library (I have an original design sheet for this very item).  By the way, they have it registered with a copyright so Rogue might want to be careful with pushing anyone else too hard about design infringement.  That little pointy end is supposedly intended to make it easier to remove the wallet from your pocket; supposedly the rounded end limits any corners from getting snagged.

[chrisash]

On all your advertising and goods have a label stating  "This is the original"made by xxxxx, copies may be cheaper but there is a reason.

[alpha2]

I've seen the Rogue/Tandy wallet, and have always thought that the point in the Rogue advertisements was facing the wrong way. Anyway, I've been putting rectangular wallets in my front pockets for years. (Well, since the early '70's, when the Coast Guard sent me to New York City). No issues.

Jeff

Edited July 1, 2018 by alpha2

[plinkercases]

I have been carrying my prototype for a front pocket EDC and receipt pouch organizer for months now... no time to move to the real piece BUT...the reason for the curve on mine...which has been continually adjusted over the last months to get a suitable and "universal" curve...is so the piece sits as far down and upright in the pocket. Compare this to my square wallet which I carry on the other pocket and it will always tip to a side and jam in the pocket. I am not sure about patenting the idea to make a pocket wallet match the profile of most pockets.... but this is my 2c on why the feature may exist. An after all this time I have decided all I need to do is swap the knife and light around to the unit is thinner at the edges. Works great though.

 

 

[ComputerDoctor]

"

Ecclesiastes 1:9 King James Version (KJV)

⁹ The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

We are all using each others intellectual and artistic ideas to form our own:)

[Sanch]

Re front pocket wallet and designs etc etc what I find very interesting is that you don't hear about any big clothing industry arguments pertaining to the shape of front pockets themselves! I can understand if a person reverse engineers and CLONES a product and makes a profit in doing so. But to make a big issue over a shape? It's kind of like arguing over who came up with bottled water first...or whose idea it was to carry a pocket knife with a clip "wait you have a clip on your knife, that is my idea you can't do that!!" Bla bla bla.... anyhow... People will be inspired by others!

On 7/3/2018 at 9:39 AM, ComputerDoctor said:

"

Ecclesiastes 1:9 King James Version (KJV)

⁹ The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

We are all using each others intellectual and artistic ideas to form our own:)

WELL SAID SIR.