LED lights

[PACMAN416]

Originally Posted by freezetyle

I could be way off here as I do not know much about patents and how far they go but seeing businesses like nano tuners got me thinking.

Couldn't someone come out with an array of led on a heat-sink that "coincidentally" fit inside of a lighting hood that is also supplied by that same supplier, and again "coincidentally" has a compatible driver? The parts could be sold as a sort of a retrofit idea. all portions being offered separately?

im not sure how patent laws work. but if you sell all the parts in a package, i guess it would be okay, just as long as they are not assembled.

[Crytone]

Originally Posted by PACMAN416

im not sure how patent laws work. but if you sell all the parts in a package, i guess it would be okay, just as long as they are not assembled.

This is actually incorrect. Still illegal if sold as a DIY 'package' or kit. It's even against patent laws to assemble your own with your own parts but it's rather unlikely you'd ever get sued for this (the cost of suing you >>> money they'd get from you).

[PACMAN416]

Originally Posted by Crytone

This is actually incorrect. Still illegal if sold as a DIY 'package' or kit. It's even against patent laws to assemble your own with your own parts but it's rather unlikely you'd ever get sued for this (the cost of suing you >>> money they'd get from you).

My bad, thanks for clearing it up. But how does nano-customs get away with what they do then?

[Ron99]

Originally Posted by PACMAN416

But how does nano-customs get away with what they do then?

The current patent covers systems with controllers. No controller means no infringement. However, and it's a big HOWEVER, Orbitheft is trying to get an extension to the patent to cover all LED lighting, whether it has a controller or not. If they do then Nano Customs will either have to stop selling their retrofits or pay a license fee to Orbitec.

Hence my earlier thread asking for any examples of prior art that anybody knows of. There is a move afoot in the industry to try to have the patent re-examined and hopefully overturned. Any examples of people publicly discussing or displaying LED aquarium lighting for more than moonlighting before December 2003 could serve as prior art making Orbitec's patent application invalid.