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?

I have no idea what you mean by "blueprint a patented item"...

> Can I use a "clone" of that patented item
> as a component of a larger for profit operation without paying
> royalties?

No.

> Could I use the original I purchased in
> such a way, certainly.

Yes.

Austin