Cloned Slipperential?

[BrianG]

lol, woah there sparky!

I would give them the benefit of the doubt before you go kicking people in the nuts. Maybe they didn't know it was a clone. If you tell them and they knew, well then, have at it...

[feistyacorn]

I guess that you're right..... Even though I pimp the RCM Slipperential every time I'm at the track or LHS with my 1/8 scales. In fact, I have one Slipperential out on loan to a friend. I've never heard of Ansmann before. It also looks like they have a MMM wantabe in their RTR brushless 1/8 scales.

[simplechamp]

Wow, I would expect cloning from the shady China manufacturers, but Ansmann seems to be a fairly recognized company over in Europe and the UK. I just sent an email to Ansmann from the "Contact" page on their website, I'll post up the response here if they answer back.

[suicideneil]

Ditto, sent a message to Ansmann & the site with the article too- it's clearly a total ripoff. Hopefully Mike will get his patent approved sooner rather than later..

[JERRY2KONE]

I fear this is rather the nature of things in the vast business world today. R&D is something only for the big business where they can afford the large sums of $$$$$$ to pay off systems to protect their personal investment and keep this from happening. The rest of us are screwed. The train is now rolling and there is little chance anyone will be able to do in order to stop it now. Mike would have to spend tons of money fighting each and everyone of them as they pop up and he has to prove that they stole his EXACT idea in order to prevent them from selling their version of this product. In the end RCM will have made the initial profits as the first to produce the slipper diff, and will continue to sell to those of us who know where it all started, but the door is open now and stopping all of them will prove futile in the long run. These things can go on for years and never really reach a result that is successful for the original inventor without it costing hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Just keep buying the RCM slipper and support Mike the best we can. Sorry if I sound negative, but I try to deal with things from a position of reality.

[superek4]

Yes, I support Mike! N rcm monster!

[suicideneil]

I got a response:

Dear Mr. Ward,

its was abolutely not our intention to hurt any pending patents. Also we send the differential to the loyer to apply a european patent.

I'll check back with our patent department how this could happened and the actuall status.

I'll come back to you very soon!

Best regards

Andreas Wild
Product Manager.

Hmm, I wonder if Mike has applied for a world wide patent or just a US one?...

[JERRY2KONE]

Could you imagine what that must be like? We see how hard it is just to protect things within the USA, I can only imagine how difficult it must be to protect products on every continent. The costs of doing so must be astronomical. Man what a PITA. Sorry to see your work being exploited Mike.

[RC-Monster Mike]

I only applied for a US patent - waay too costly to apply in every country. Most countries will not approve a patent if it already exits in another country, though so I could apply in other countries at a later date. It has been about 2 years since the patent application was filed here, but things move pretty slow.

Regarding the respose from Mr. Wild, well it is a bit of BS IMO - they know they did not invent this product and therefore have no right applying for the patent(my bet is that they did not apply for a patent at all). If I was a betting man, My guess would be that they are buying their version from the copycats in China(they apparently use the same copy machine at least). Even after my patent is approved, I can only legally control US sales of the item(and that isn't easy) - only integrity(or lack of) keeps others outside the US from selling it and claiming it as their own invention - they won't be able to patent the rights, though(only I can as I am the inventor and can prove it).

[superek4]

Don't worry mike we will support u!

[BrianG]

Is there ANY system in the US that actually works? Jeesh, it gets so frustrating to see all the crap (this copyright issue being just one) that is going on!

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by BrianG

Is there ANY system in the US that actually works? Jeesh, it gets so frustrating to see all the crap (this copyright issue being just one) that is going on!

WHAT WORKS? How about freedom of speach? We get to bitch and complain all day long, but no one has to really give a rats A$$. So this is what everyone wants to move to the USA for? Sorry BG but you are right. Whats the world coming to? I really do worry some days where our country is heading, but I doubt that we will live long enough to see any real progress, or more so the final days of our nation as a country.

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

...So this is what everyone wants to move to the USA for? ...

Oh, I know why a lot of people want to move here - the entitlements! Where else can you came here and get free health care, education, welfare, etc either explicitly or implicitly? My wife and I are considering a "big move" once our kids with our ex's come of age, but where to go? The whole world is a big pile of crap - the smell, color, size, and texture just varies with location. It's kind of like voting; you pick the best out of the worst candidates.

Sorry, I'm just feeling especially angry today for some reason...

[snellemin]

Brian you are correct.

You just have to make the best out of it and learn to deal with certain shortcomings.

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by snellemin

Brian you are correct.

You just have to make the best out of it and learn to deal with certain shortcomings.

I don't think so. That is what others told the Jews during the holacost. I keep hearing the statement about how Gov cannot get too big. I feel that this is one of the major problems with our country. Our Gov has become so big that even if you do have a lagitimate gripe it can take months or even years before it gets to anyone who not only may give a rats a$$, but to someone who can actually do anything positive about the problem. Just remember that the system is only so big, and it is up to the people to come together and change it. That is the principle that our country was founded on. The bother is that you have to work hard to gather enough people to make a difference, and not very many people want the responsibility of doing that. We would rather just roll with the punches and not rock the boat. You reap what you sow.