Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Saw this in Grit magazine yesterday, neat combination of PVC and zip ties (my favorite item of all time) to make domes. Cool!

http://www.ziptiedomes.com

awesome, looks easy as.

thanks for the link... might try one of these

nice I may use this some day

He has a US Patent warning on it

Item:10 Are You Making your Own Hubs?


It might be worth reading and checking exactly what is patented and what is not and re-design from there.

If its patented you can build it. You just can't copy it and sell it.


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How can you patent drilling a hole in a pipe?

I think you'd be amazed at the amount of stuff that is patented. Everything from the slightly rounded edges on the iphone - to some of the genes in your body.

The geo dome for chook pens has been around for a long time with many different ways to build. This is the first I have seen with a supposed patent on it.

I thought it may have been a bluff, no it's legit.


Maybe not in China or Thailand

http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/ ... 31126.html

I started looking through their website thinking "brilliant, what a great idea, good on you..."


Till I hit the part about the patenting...





And on and on it went... Specially bolding the bits about "you can't make it yourself".. This simple DIY thing we invented, which is SO diy, bits of pipe and cable ties, YOU CAN NOT DO YOURSELF... Imagine if someone patented a diy barrel aquaponics system, or an IBC system so that no one else could make their own?

Man thats just society gone so wrong.. Glad it's only over there in the US and I hope we don't get that bad here.

I really doubt your system is any different than ours. I doubt there is a real patent on this, and even if it is you can still build it for your self. Patents have not changed in a very long time. I doubt your country is any better than ours.

1) US patent isn't covered anywhere outside of US
2) They need to prove you knowingly copied it
3) You are allowed to improve on an object. Your improvement could be replacing the zip ties for wire ties, PVC centre for aluminium centre etc etc

It sounds like more scare tactic to me than anything.

Actually I fully support the right for them to patent their invention. If such simple inventions can't be patented that places a disincentive for people to invent simple solutions. If only complex innovations can be patented then we will only get complex solutions.

Sure its simple, sure you could make it yourself but did anyone else think of this solution? If the answer is yes and if they published it anywhere then the patent is void. If they didn't then the inventor of this component deserves all they can extract from it. Just because something is obvious after the fact doesn't mean it was hard to invent in the first place.

Things like bread ties, zip ties, paper clips staples, bar codes and so many other simple inventions once had patent protection (bar codes still do). Providing someone with the exclusive right to exploit their invention for a period of time before every one can just copy it creates an incentive that can inspire innovators to develop innovations and new technologies.

Given how hard it is to get a commercial return from an innovation I've got no problem with the patent system because without it it would be even harder to get new technologies to market.

Think about what that would mean? No new medical drugs, renewable energy technology, etc.

1. Yep
2. No they don't. If you have a patent and someone else invents the same thing too bad for them because you have the patent. That is why you do a patent search before you try and get a patent. It is also why it is a good idea to be at least a little familar with the industry or similar solutions to your invention before you put a mass of effort into developing it.
3. Yes you are but it depends on how the patent is written. Just changing the material may or may not get around their patent. If it has been written well then such a simple change would not be enough to get around the patent.

Yeah it is they will not have the time to pursue individual breaches by DIYers.