Mexican shy Inventor / Totally different camera-jib

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Yomero0666

Member
I'm just finish the prototype V2 of a totally different camera jib, but I am frightened with the matter of patents or share it online, do not know if posting pictures or video ... I'm excited to show these new features ... what do you think, I'm wrong? I'm in Mexico and the market is very small, google translated for me, thanks.
 
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You are right to be careful. I don't know what the proper steps would be, but I'm sure a quick Google search will give you some ideas to protect your new product!
Treat this as a poker game...show no on your cards until the time is right!
 
- do a patent search. Your idea may not be unique.
- write down your idea. sign it, notarize it.
- if you have the money, submit a patent application.

But understand that patents do not protect an invention. The only thing that protects an invention is money. If you have a good idea, anyone can steal it. A patent is only useful if you are willing to spend more money in the courts than the person that has taken your idea. I doubt there is enough money in the jib business to defend a patent, unless you are already an established company with the lawyers and cash already in place to deal with an infringement.
 
if you think its marketable. i wouldnt share it until you are able to rip off (or have) 4 or 5 right out of the gate.
 
Wow, that was fast !!! Thanks for you comments, I think I need a bussines partner in USA to improve it and to start manufacture/sell process. I did an extensive search of patents and market and found no other system like it. I know, everyone says the same thing about his/her idea. I will post the video using this thing in a few days, thanks again for your support.:cheesy:
 
Hi

Couple of ideas. I have been successfully through the patent process, worked as a product designer myself and for other companies and seen the issues you are afraid of. First it takes a lot of money to prototype, I assume you know that. Then the big leap is for tooling for production. You have to make and sell quite a few to make the tooling costs come down so you can make a profit. Then you do need to worry about competition. Unless you have money or an "angel" that is someone else with money you are best off looking to license your design. Most important is to find the right company. Many companies will be super interested just to steal. Yes it happens. I asked a friend once about a certain company I was thinking of approaching and he warned me that they indicated interest in buying his company or obtaining a license and then systematically stole everything they could. He later met others who had the same experience. Fortunately I steered clear. But the right company can do very well for you. Find out who else they have worked with and how they were treated. Then speak with a lawyer first. In the meantime keep designing and testing. I also suggest not sinking any money you can't afford to lose into your project. At the end of the day using other people's money and or another company to make and sell your design you can expect somewhere between a 1%- 5% profit to come back to you for the design. Try to make lots of little mistakes and learn - not the one big one that brings you to a dead-end.

Hope this helps and I wish you good luck.
 
a lot of it comes down to your design. how difficult or expensive is it to construct? is it something that someone with an average pocketbook and set of tools could copy easily?

another thing to think about is buyer expectation. i built a SUPER affordable slider product a few months back that provided as good or BETTER slider results than the expensive big boys. but i ran up against two major problems:
- even though building it successfully, took a good degree of DIY skill. a lot of folks complained that it looked too "DIY" because it's base was made of wood. im not talking cheap scrap limber but higher grade poplar.
- the slider carriage didnt lock to the rails and people feared that it might fall off when left alone. this was a valid complaint. but you know that going in and its obvious in use that when youre done with your move - remove the camera and carriage and set it somewhere safe.

the point of my long story is this. from years of shooting, reading forums, listening to various slider complaints over the years. i thought id made something that worked very well for a VERY low price and people would understand that its shortcomings were an acceptable trade for the quality of performance and low price.

i was wrong.

so the cautionary tale here is being close to the project can make it harder to see the big picture. take the time to research what the market expects (whether or not you agree with it) before you get too far ahead of yourself...
 
Hi

Good patent lawyers are VERY expensive. If you have determined enough facts and made an assessment that warrants it, and you have enough money proceed. You might save yourself quite a bit of time and money assessing first. If you are completely unfamiliar with patent law there are good books and that is a good place to start. Remmember cheap patent lawyers are out to sell you services. Excellent patent lawyers are expensive and busy. You might be best off to find someone with experience either in that products industry or a related industry to advise you. Most people are willing to help and someone close enough to have knowledge but far enough away to not pose a problem can be both free and invaluable. I have been approached and have helped several people and in turn have been helped by others.

A patent lawyer is a very specific function and fits nicely in one narrow slot. Some may be able to give you the big picture but many are just good patent lawyers and or are not happy in the mentor role. Billable hours they like, long mentoring sessions - not so much. I think you need someone first who has been around the block to spend some time with you and bring you up to speed on the whole proccess of bringing a product to market. If you check around there are lots of people to ask. Pick someone nice and very smart. After that I like the above advice to get a lawyer.
 
I just posted a video with shots using my new invention, hope you really like it !!! Please comment !!!! Es muy importante para mi. GRACIAS !!!!
 
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If I am not mistaken Arri has a patent for this but, I am not educated enough to determine what exact part of it is patented. This is a very cool project, even though its a bit shaky in the video I am sure that can be improved. OP I have sent you a PM as I think me and you might be of some help to each other. I am currently building my 6th prototype crane. But have yet to show any photos
 
Impressive range of moves in a confined space. Best of luck with it, I hope you succeed.

Might be worth doing a Kickstarter fund raising project to help with costs.
 
Egg Born Son said:
That's pretty cool even in the rough prototype. What sort of payload are you aiming for here, DSLR or full camera?
Click to expand...

Mexican writing in English: at this time just bridge camera fz150, there is a mechanical head with a lot of axis, trying to simplify to carry more weight.

Note: I want to find people outside of Mexico, interested to develop my invention, and/or even patent it. I ask only a few percent. I can't go all the way alone, in a year I don't see to much progress.

Saludos desde Mexico amigos !!!! Great forum !!! Really smart people around here !!!

Othon Reza
 
my advice is to just develop the product and market it correctly, based on what I've seen, china knocks off everything anyway look at the zacuto products the redrock products they copy them and sell them from china and they dont care about patents, your best bet is to develop, manufacture and sell the product, even if you have a patent they are still gonna copy the design
 
aalleexx is right. Exact same thought process that I went through. You cannot win when someone in china copies the design. And it will happen. You will spend $20k on a patent and then it wont do anything for you. My plan is to flood the market. Make your product ready to go. No questions asked ordering, Hit the market hard and fast, take the sales while you can before the knockoffs arrive. Innovate and improve along the way.
 
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