Am I getting screwed???
12-04-2017, 10:19 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Am I getting screwed???
So I’m the first person to convert a 16 F150 front end to a 2018. Halogen to LED fully plug and play with my own custom harness. Well recently I’ve been messaged by a few big companies that do retrofit headlights. They all say “I’m doing the conversion to my personal truck and want you make me a harness.”
Is it me or does it seem like they are trying to take my harness I made to sell to the public? Like it took me hours to make my own harness and no one has been able to make one. Like I don’t want someone to make money off my work.
At the same time I have my own section on this forum dedicated to helping other do crazy swaps, gut outs, and how to’s.
Is it me or does it seem like they are trying to take my harness I made to sell to the public? Like it took me hours to make my own harness and no one has been able to make one. Like I don’t want someone to make money off my work.
At the same time I have my own section on this forum dedicated to helping other do crazy swaps, gut outs, and how to’s.
12-04-2017, 11:01 PM
#5
Senior Member
Step one, disclosure document, mail one copy to yourself and leave it sealed as proof of when you developed the idea.
Step 2, patent attorney.
Step three, watch the aftermarket kits like a paranoid hawk and make sure no one is stealing your work.
You're going to have a rough time getting exclusive rights to this, as anyone can (and likely will) claim parallel development for an adapter harness. They're just trying to shorten the development cycle and gain first mover advantage.
Step 2, patent attorney.
Step three, watch the aftermarket kits like a paranoid hawk and make sure no one is stealing your work.
You're going to have a rough time getting exclusive rights to this, as anyone can (and likely will) claim parallel development for an adapter harness. They're just trying to shorten the development cycle and gain first mover advantage.
Last edited by gone postal; 12-04-2017 at 11:13 PM.
12-04-2017, 11:45 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Exactly what I thought
Step one, disclosure document, mail one copy to yourself and leave it sealed as proof of when you developed the idea.
Step 2, patent attorney.
Step three, watch the aftermarket kits like a paranoid hawk and make sure no one is stealing your work.
You're going to have a rough time getting exclusive rights to this, as anyone can (and likely will) claim parallel development for an adapter harness. They're just trying to shorten the development cycle and gain first mover advantage.
Step 2, patent attorney.
Step three, watch the aftermarket kits like a paranoid hawk and make sure no one is stealing your work.
You're going to have a rough time getting exclusive rights to this, as anyone can (and likely will) claim parallel development for an adapter harness. They're just trying to shorten the development cycle and gain first mover advantage.
12-05-2017, 04:57 AM
#7
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12-05-2017, 07:56 AM
#8
Senior Member
At the very least talk to a patent lawyer to get their take on it. It really would suck to see you get screwed out of your hard work.
12-05-2017, 10:43 AM
#9
Senior Member
Mailing yourself in the US gives you no legal benefit. USCO states this
"The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a “poor man’s copyright.” There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration."
"The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a “poor man’s copyright.” There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration."
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UncleG (12-05-2017)
12-05-2017, 11:38 AM
#10
Since this probably won't make you rich...why not just offer your harness to one of the companies for a couple of grand. It's not like they won't eventually figure out how to do it. Heck, I can envision how to do it...so they must not be very technically adept at their craft if they can't figure it out. Make an offer to gain a little money before they figure it out. We are not talking about a million dollar deal here.