I have been thinking all afternoon regarding foreign manufacturers copying planes. I would like to make a few comments both from the manufacturers point of view as well as a designer's point of view. I hope that this does not start any flaming, and I hope, as you will see, that it does not preclude anybody from designing. As a manufacturer of a tool that is not an airplane, I want to agree with Mark Mech and advise that he not simplify the ability of a foreign manufacturer, or even a internal high volume seller, by permitting or sending them information regarding his design. While he, or any other manufacturer, cannot prevent a competitive manufacturer from buying the design as a sample, he can only hope that the company would have more sense than to start bad press for themselves in the marketplace. The Marketplace for modeling is fairly small, so this bad press can be very damaging. There are other reasons which could cause a problem for the copying manufacturer. The state of the art changes fairly rapidly, and those pilots who want to have the "best" will have bought the plane prior to the copying manufacturer selling it. Besides that, there is alot of tooling, and labor which must be invested prior to a release, and there is a question of whether it is truely worth it. Poor decisions have yielded such planes like the B2 bomber. (it never could fly for me). People want to have the NEW design on the block. I have looked around at the contest scene and most planes last only a short time before a new, more advanced design is being flown by the top guys. If a foreign manufacturer decides to copy the design, there is really no recourse. A small manufacturer cannot fight with the only thing which he might have at his disposal, a copyright. And even that is only as effective as how deep the pockets the manufacturer has. He has to resolve himself to making them look bad in the marketing department, or perhaps what would really happen and that is he gets the shaft himself. I know, I have been there at the government level. The original desinger looses every time. So what can the manufacturer do? Well, he can design a new, better plane which makes the market for the older plane nonexistant. As if that is not what we are all trying to do already, Right? What I see is that the designs that are in effect today, will be only really competitive for a short time, and then they will be replaced by the newest and greatest. What is the true lifespan of a design? Perhaps months. And since it is quite short, the copying manufacturer will soon be outclassed by the upcoming designs. Unless the plane is so much a beginners plane that many will be sold, I consider the investment in copying a loss. Is that what the people in Taiwan, or another country thinks about, I do not know. I could go on, and I hope I have not alienated anybody. Thermals, Chris http://www.scrollsander.com RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
