How Important is Intellectual Property in Your Decisions?

[manuellynch]

If you are working on a large sign program and you have to recommend to the end customer which product to use between two different choices and it is brought up that one of the suppliers clearly violates some existing intellectual property/patents...would you caution the end customer away from using that supplier?

After all - if in fact there is a legal issue it is well known that even the end customer (the sign company) could be held liable and pursued legally for using the patent infringing product - right???

I am just curious how intellectual property plays a part in a sign company's decisions.

[fishing nut]

If you are working on a large sign program and you have to recommend to the end customer which product to use between two different choices and it is brought up that one of the suppliers clearly violates some existing intellectual property/patents...would you caution the end customer away from using that supplier?

After all - if in fact there is a legal issue it is well known that even the end customer (the sign company) could be held liable and pursued legally for using the patent infringing product - right???

I am just curious how intellectual property plays a part in a sign company's decisions.

I think a reputable company would not jepordize an account especially a large sign program or even a one off project. It would put a black mark on thier name and thier product. That is unless they went through proper channels to secure permission to do so.

[Checkers]

Intellectual property suits can sometimes be frivilous. So, I would not let that sway my decision on what products to offer or purchase - assuming it was in the best interest of the client.

And no, I probably would not mention it to the client - unless it's a long term project and, because of a possible cease and desist order or a settlement from the suit, the materials would no longer be available.

Checkers

[argon]

If you are working on a large sign program and you have to recommend to the end customer which product to use between two different choices and it is brought up that one of the suppliers clearly violates some existing intellectual property/patents...would you caution the end customer away from using that supplier?

After all - if in fact there is a legal issue it is well known that even the end customer (the sign company) could be held liable and pursued legally for using the patent infringing product - right???

I am just curious how intellectual property plays a part in a sign company's decisions.

[argon]

who is this troll? Intellectual Property Law ? For signs? or some small part included in the fabrication of a sign? ????

The Sign business is comprised of the worst of the copywright infringment whores known to to the advertising industry.

One reason why we in the industry are forced to impose sales taxes on "our" products....because we can't show we first created anything. Thus we are retail.....

It is the rare sign company that actually does legally copywright, and ENFORCE copywright on their creations.

[manuellynch]

who is this troll? Intellectual Property Law ? For signs? or some small part included in the fabrication of a sign? ????

The Sign business is comprised of the worst of the copywright infringment whores known to to the advertising industry.

One reason why we in the industry are forced to impose sales taxes on "our" products....because we can't show we first created anything. Thus we are retail.....

It is the rare sign company that actually does legally copywright, and ENFORCE copywright on their creations.

Great feedback - thank you. I appreciate what you have added.