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Got asked to machine a part that I knew was for copying a patented tool. Felt wrong but the money was good. Ever been in a spot like that?
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morganmartin7mo ago
Seriously? Not every patent is some noble cause. Big companies patent obvious stuff just to sue people, and half the "inventors" are just tweaking old designs. Susan_nelson13 had one bad experience, but that doesn't mean every job is stealing food from a family. Sometimes the "little guy" is just someone who thinks they own an idea everyone already uses.
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jordan_roberts877mo ago
You mentioned stealing food from a family, and that's exactly what happened to a buddy of mine. He spent two years making this specialty tool for woodworkers. A big tool company saw it at a fair, made a cheap copy, and undercut him on price. He lost the business and then lost the house. It wasn't some obvious idea, it was his solution to a real problem. Seeing that up close changes how you see these things.
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susan_nelson137mo ago
Man, I used to think patents were just big companies being greedy. Then I did some work for a couple small inventors and saw how a copied design literally killed this guy's family business. Changed my whole view. Now I turn down those jobs even when it hurts, because that little guy trusted me with his drawings.
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caleb_hall527mo ago
Word gets around if you're known as the guy who'll machine stolen designs.
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gray_ramirez7mo ago
What happens to your REPUTATION when you're labeled that way? Does it scare off the legit inventors too? I've heard shops get blacklisted by whole communities because they helped copy a popular tool. Once you're known for that, even if you change later, people remember. It can take years to rebuild trust.
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