Steve, The program Zwvlak, and the later version Zw2000, wasn't meant for commercial use but for people that are just interested in gnomonics. However, if professionals use the program to make their products, do I have any chance to stop them? I think this is true for many programs that circulates on the web or that are published via bulletins as Compendium. Otherwise I should have asked a high price for my program and shouldn't distribute it for free. But it's more important to me that I can be of help to anyone who is interested in gnomonics.
I wish you good luck with your buisseness and would be pleased to see your dials. Best wishes, Fer. Fer J. de Vries mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.iae.nl/users/ferdv/ Eindhoven, Netherlands lat. 51:30 N long. 5:30 E ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Turley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 9:10 PM Subject: Starting a sundial business > I've been lurking on this list for years, reading and learning, and now > it's time to stick my head out. > > I'm interested in starting a web-based custom sundial business. My idea, > briefly, is that people would come to my site, select a sundial design, > choose a motto and other decoration, enter their location and other > pertinent info, and leave a credit card number. I will have some > software that creates the sundial and sends it to a manufacturer. The > complete dial is shipped to the customer. > I will limit my choice of dials to vertical or horizontal flat models > with simple gnomons. > > A little more detail: I want to etch the dial face into stone, slate, or > ceramic tiles using a laser etching process. Since these machines are > expensive I hope to find a service that will accept a DXF or other > digital format and do the etching. I provide a gnomon, package the thing > and ship it. I can write the software myself or use one of the many > programs available. > > A few of the many, many questions.... > Is this feasible at all? What success have others had with this type of > business? > Can zonwvlak be used for commercial purposes? > Is laser etching suitable for this application? Anyone have any > experience with it? > How do I insure that I don't violate any patents? > > Thanks > > > > > - > -
