Have the patent wars gone too far? Black Rapid Straps...

[ptrd]

Nothing against BlackRapid (maybe a little ) but what is new about "camera straps with a sliding connection"?

Luma (I own a Luma strap) just stopped making their straps so they don't have to engage in a lawsuit because black rapid has the patent. Don't get me wrong, we need patents and patent law but the BR strap isn't anything new, it just so happens to be the most popular brand.

I'm getting really irrated with all of these patents companies are just filing for random crap in hopes someday some big product will somewhat use something similiar so they can sue and get $$$.

Luma Loop Camera Strap Killed Off After Patent Awarded to Black Rapid

[Tom]

Didn't Luma come to the party after Black Rapid? Part of having the great idea first is getting to cash in on it. Patents protect the innovators.

[groovyone]

The design may not have been completely original, but BR was first to the party.

[Nikonfan]

I have the Sun Sniper which is pretty much the same thing. But I am strongly considering selling it for a BR. I love it, but there are two issues I have with it. The shoulder pad is always falling down my back. It is not stitched to the strap so it slides just like the camera. I can probably fix that with a safety pin or needle and thread. But the other issue is that they don't sell any pouches for the strap. I would love to have a pouch that would hold either my iphone or some extra memory cards.

[donlfaulkner]

I just made my own out of some strap I had from my camping days. Only had to buy a clamp hook. Works fine. Looking to build one for Princess. (Too broke to spend the high dollars BR or Luma wants.)

[studiocygnet]

And I think that's what Peter is referring to in his original post. People have been making their own versions for 50 years or more, and the fact that anyone would be issued a patent is surprising. The same thing recently happened in the bicycle industry. Elektra bicycles was issued a patent for what is called the "foot forward" design, where the cranks are out in front of the saddle. It's a design that's been in existence since the turn of the 20th century; who would have thought someone would try and patent it, but they got one.

[ptrd]

Originally Posted by studiocygnet

And I think that's what Peter is referring to in his original post. People have been making their own versions for 50 years or more, and the fact that anyone would be issued a patent is surprising. The same thing recently happened in the bicycle industry. Elektra bicycles was issued a patent for what is called the "foot forward" design, where the cranks are out in front of the saddle. It's a design that's been in existence since the turn of the 20th century; who would have thought someone would try and patent it, but they got one.

Thanks, that's the gist (I'm horrible with words).

I mean the "sniper / gun" strap with a connection (to a gun) for the most part almost ubiquitous. I think the BR strap itself (and others) are a great product but at what point was it truly "theirs" to patent? Was it really that revolutionary (like for instance lense groups designs) to be considered a copyright?

[auddii]

Well, batsmati rice is patented in the US, even though the method of growing it and the strains of rice have been used in India for over a thousand years. The US patent office will issue a patent if one hasn't been issued before and there are some other qualifications I don't remember. It's stupid, but it's what they do. If you have something you've rigged up at home to make your life easier, then go patent it just in case...

[Nikonfan]

Once an idea/invetion becomes public you only have 12 months to file for a patent on it. So if an idea has been around years and someone gets a patent, that would be due to a slight change. For example, the way the strap mounts to the camera. Some screw directly in. Some have a plate that allows you to connect the camer to a tripod while the strap is attached. My Sun Sniper doesn't have this but I wish it did. A patent is only as good as the words you include when you file. If the wording and diagrams are vague, someone else can easily sell the same thing and good luck suing them in court. That's all a patent is anyway. A paper that shows the court that you are the owner of a particular idea.

So it's important to include any and all possible variations of your idea and future upgrades. Otherwise, someone can just build a better mousetrap and then your patent is worthless. I have come up with hundereds of invetions over the years. Some good, some lame, and some great. I never have applied for a patent because in the end, most people just lose a few thousand dollars even if they get the patent.

[Nikonfan]

I should add to my above comments. You can obtain a patent for only a few hundred dollars if you do it on your own. However, if you have to sue a company that has their own legal department you may be wishing you had paid for a patent lawyer when you had your patent written. It's like writing your own wedding contract. You can do it. But it may not cover you as well as if you hired a lawyer to write it.