[Rhodes22-list] BR Intellectual Property

[Bill Effros]

Todd,

Please help me here.

As usual, Stan has taken a completely different approach to
Dodger/Awning construction from the traditional marine source approach.
Most of us have enough faith in Stan to accept his experience at face value.

We are planning to take all of his experience and build from it a
low-cost highly useful addition to our boats.  Stan has graciously told
us which way to go, from the many possibilities.  For this he surely is
entitled to something.  What?  How do we give it to him?  Do we each pay
him a royalty if we build BRs based on his concepts?

It looks like if each of us gets some PVC or another material if
preferred, we can each build a frame based on Stan's design.  We can
then each make panels that hang from that frame.  The panels can be made
of blue plastic, or anything else once we publish frame sizes and shapes.

Which means each of us could have a BR this summer if we want one.  We
can pool our knowledge and come up with common specs for everything.  We
can improve panels and frames as we can afford to update.

Stan would wind up owning the patterns, and specs for the room.  Over
time he could fabricate and sell things for less than any individual
could make the first one.  People could start with plans for a cheap
room, and graduate to more and more screened and clear panels as desired
over time.  If we are using the room, I would guess we would spring for
more expensive and versatile panels.

What is a fair royalty for using Stan's concept?  How do we pay him?
This will, of course, be honor system.

Bill Effros