Digital BW, The Print

Austin Franklin wrote:

>
> > To look at this from a slightly different angle let's look at patent
> > law, based upon the same premises..  I can buy a patented item.  But, if
> > I blueprint it and/or copy it, I have violated the patent and probably
> > voided my own usage license.
>
> Absolutely not true.  You can use ANY patent you want, providing you 
> do not
> sell (and technically, give away too) what you make.  But, for YOUR 
> OWN USE,
> that is not a patent violation at all.
>
Again we will have to return to fair use doctrine..

Is it reasonable to expect that I will blueprint a patented item and use 
it?  If so, to what extent?  Can I use a "clone" of that patented item 
as a component of a larger for profit operation without paying 
royalties?  Quite unlikely.. Could I use the original I purchased in 
such a way, certainly.

Keith