On 1/31/2012 7:37 PM, Larry W wrote:
Something to keep in mind when discussing ideas that do not conflict with
the Gass patents: It has been common for some years now for the Patent
Office to approve patents no matter how ridiculously obvious, over reaching,
plainly derivative, etc.

Predator Cues drills a hole in the first 6 inches of their pool cue
shafts to reduce the weight of the tip of the cue. They have a patent
on the hole. Lots of cue makers are afraid of drilling a hole in the
tip of the cue because of this, and lots of debate over whether the
patent would hold up in court. It would take forever and a ton of money
to go to court, and my guess is a hole in a stick is a hard patent to
sustain.

.. I suppose if that happens Gass and the newcomer can
duke it out in court. As usual, the lawyers will win, though in this case,
Gass, the lawyer, would also be one of the litigants. It would be worth
seeing for that aspect alone IMHO!

OB1, another cue maker, now makes a cue with a hole all the way through
the shaft. Don't know if they have a patent on that hole or not.
Personally, I would hope neither could sustain a patent like this, but
when government is involved, really stupid things can/will happen.

I guess you can sue anyone for anything, but can you win? You can get a
patent on about anything, but until it is sustained in court, it's just
paper and money talks.

--
Jack
Add Life to your Days not Days to your Life.
http://jbstein.com