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Old 05-15-2012, 09:40 PM   #37 (permalink)
smokey442
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Mechanic View Post
"Intellectual property" implies a patent, which is how innovation is protected and "sold" to other entities interested in production. Maybe I am making a few too many assumptions but if the sold intellectual property was in fact patented, then those rights expired a while ago and became public property, which can be produced by anyone without legal issues. My design patent expires in 17.5 years, from its issue date in March 2010, and I believe Smokey's carburetor design is no longer property that can be licensed as its protection period has expired. Of course my point of view may be flawed, in which case clarification would be appreciated.

regards
Mech
Patent #4,862,859 along with three or four others related to that. They have expired.
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