Detector IP vs Customs

[Prospector_Al]

Hi gwzd,

I see that you are in Sweden. Are there any placer gold deposits there? Are metal detectors permitted?

I'm interested in testing a metal detector design in various countries--Sweden migh be a nice side trip...

Allan

[dougAEGPF]

Hi gwzd,

I see that you are in Sweden. Are there any placer gold deposits there? Are metal detectors permitted?

I'm interested in testing a metal detector design in various countries--Sweden migh be a nice side trip...

Allan

Allan,
Plenty of placers in Australia!
dougAEGPF

[Prospector_Al]

Australia

Allan,
Plenty of placers in Australia!
dougAEGPF

Hi DOUGAEGPF,

That's what I've heard! But there's also a company in Australia with "The best best metal detector technology in the world" that's so insecure about their technology that they would serve me with papers the moment I step off the plane with this Turkish detector, to find out how the detector works....Apparently, they don't think their technology is good enough to be able to compete fairly in the market place.

I don't think that strategy would work in any other country.

Nevertheless, sooner or later, I'll try the detector in Australia.

Allan

[wam]

Hi, I work for global mining electronics industry. Just heve checked Europ for Gold :

SWEDEN - Svartiden, Kankberg, Bjorkdal, Suurikuusiko-Kittala, Pampalo, Orivesi, Vammala, Jokisivu
IRELAND (GB) - Omagh
BULGARIA - Chelopech
TURKEY - Efemcukuru, Kisladag

There are other places with gold nagets (everage 1g) but You should check mines in Europe back dated 400 years ago.

[ODM]

Just heve checked Europ for Gold :
SWEDEN - Svartiden, Kankberg, Bjorkdal, Suurikuusiko-Kittala, Pampalo, Orivesi, Vammala, Jokisivu

Some of those "swedish" deposits are in Finland

But it's close enough, anyway. There are plenty of small nuggets and flakes in the lapland region river beds, though rarely dense enough to warrant professional-scale mechanical mining. And if it is, it's rapidly taken over by companies working closely with the local government. Oh well.

[Aziz]

Hi DOUGAEGPF,

That's what I've heard! But there's also a company in Australia with "The best best metal detector technology in the world" that's so insecure about their technology that they would serve me with papers the moment I step off the plane with this Turkish detector, to find out how the detector works....Apparently, they don't think their technology is good enough to be able to compete fairly in the market place.

I don't think that strategy would work in any other country.

Nevertheless, sooner or later, I'll try the detector in Australia.

Allan

Hi Allan,

as you are going to use the Turkish detector, you also need a Turkish madman, who is fuggin back to the trouble makers. *LOL*
Yep, you can expect a lot of paper work.

Cheers,
Aziz

[Prospector_Al]

Prospecting by tourists?

Some of those "swedish" deposits are in Finland

But it's close enough, anyway. There are plenty of small nuggets and flakes in the lapland region river beds, though rarely dense enough to warrant professional-scale mechanical mining. And if it is, it's rapidly taken over by companies working closely with the local government. Oh well.

Is it possible for tourists to use metal detectors on government land? Maybe I should get in touch with tourist bureaus? At any rate, just watching the Northern lights might be worth a visit...

All the best,

Allan

[Prospector_Al]

Hi Aziz,

There's a legal question I have to resolve before I go anywhere: If the circuitry is a "trade secret", can a court order for "discovery" force a disclosure of the circuit and processor code? If someone alleges that a patent has been infringed, isn't it necessary to show some kind of evidence that this may be the case? If I allege that Coca-Cola has infringed my patent on Al's Tonic energy drink, can I force disclosure of the highly secret Coca-Cola recipe?

I think that the Turkish Technology is a trade secret and not covered by patents. Reasonable measures have been taken to keep the circuitry secret, so if anybody traces it, the knowedge has been obtained by illicit means and use of the knowledge would be subject to civil action in court.

I think we'd better lay low and let everybody forget about this detector...

Keep inventing,

Allan

[dougAEGPF]

Hi Aziz,

There's a legal question I have to resolve before I go anywhere: If the circuitry is a "trade secret", can a court order for "discovery" force a disclosure of the circuit and processor code? If someone alleges that a patent has been infringed, isn't it necessary to show some kind of evidence that this may be the case?
Allan

In Australia it seems that the standard of evidence required is very low!!! Courts it seems can be easily fooled (or conned?)and you can get a discovery order when you have NOT even challenged the patent!!!!
dougAEGPF

[Aziz]

Hi Aziz,

There's a legal question I have to resolve before I go anywhere: If the circuitry is a "trade secret", can a court order for "discovery" force a disclosure of the circuit and processor code? If someone alleges that a patent has been infringed, isn't it necessary to show some kind of evidence that this may be the case? If I allege that Coca-Cola has infringed my patent on Al's Tonic energy drink, can I force disclosure of the highly secret Coca-Cola recipe?

I think that the Turkish Technology is a trade secret and not covered by patents. Reasonable measures have been taken to keep the circuitry secret, so if anybody traces it, the knowedge has been obtained by illicit means and use of the knowledge would be subject to civil action in court.

I think we'd better lay low and let everybody forget about this detector...

Keep inventing,

Allan

Hi Allan,

I'm not a legal expert. However, it should be difficult to serve the court order to a "tourist". A tourist has a forein address and is usually always on the move.

Cheers,
Aziz

[ODM]

it should be difficult to serve the court order to a "tourist"

...unless you're a game developer visiting Greece, for example!

[Qiaozhi]

Hi Aziz,

There's a legal question I have to resolve before I go anywhere: If the circuitry is a "trade secret", can a court order for "discovery" force a disclosure of the circuit and processor code? If someone alleges that a patent has been infringed, isn't it necessary to show some kind of evidence that this may be the case? If I allege that Coca-Cola has infringed my patent on Al's Tonic energy drink, can I force disclosure of the highly secret Coca-Cola recipe?

I think that the Turkish Technology is a trade secret and not covered by patents. Reasonable measures have been taken to keep the circuitry secret, so if anybody traces it, the knowedge has been obtained by illicit means and use of the knowledge would be subject to civil action in court.

I think we'd better lay low and let everybody forget about this detector...

Keep inventing,

Allan

It is not illegal to back-engineer a design for educational purposes, or even to build a clone for your own use. However, if you back-engineer a design in order to manufacture a clone for sale on the open market, then that is illegal. You can even post your back-engineered design in the forums, as long as it was obtained from an actual device, and is not merely a copy of the original schematics.

Also, no-one can serve you with a disclosure notice unless they have reasonable grounds to believe the design infringes an existing patent. In the case of the QED, for example, a patent was issued (plus an excessive amount of negative comments aimed at Minelab) which resulted in the disclosure notice. So, as a tourist, using your own detector to [err] go detecting, you should be perfectly safe.

Anyway, isn't this getting a little bit off-topic.

[dougAEGPF]

It is not illegal to back-engineer a design for educational purposes, or even to build a clone for your own use. However, if you back-engineer a design in order to manufacture a clone for sale on the open market, then that is illegal. You can even post your back-engineered design in the forums, as long as it was obtained from an actual device, and is not merely a copy of the original schematics.

Also, no-one can serve you with a disclosure notice unless they have reasonable grounds to believe the design infringes an existing patent. In the case of the QED, for example, a patent was issued (plus an excessive amount of negative comments aimed at Minelab) which resulted in the disclosure notice. So, as a tourist, using your own detector to [err] go detecting, you should be perfectly safe.

Anyway, isn't this getting a little bit off-topic.

How different (ie deviate from the original) do the schematics of the back engineered design need to be before it is NOT considered a clone?
dougAEGPF

[Aziz]

Sorry for being off-topic, but there is a simple rule:
"Live and let live!".

If your enemies don't let you live, you very likely won't let live them too.
Payback is soooo sweet.
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth"

[ODM]

Still a bit off-topic but still an important concern: If you import an unlicensed copy of some product, even for personal use, most countries under "international" IP legislation will allow the copyright holders to deny bringing such objects into the country. This applies for electronics devices, clothes/luggage, recordings - and just about anything. It's not something usually seen, unless they decide to raise the issue with customs officials or other law enforcement, and a copied product shows up in random checks. It can lead to confiscation of the offending item(s), fines, or even law action.

It doesn't have to look like the original product. If it's an unlicensed clone (like some handheld game consoles) it can be offensive even if the schematic etc. doesn't match the original precisely. Whether it's right or wrong is a bit of moot point as long as it's illegal.