Any recent 6ul rumors?
04-05-2014, 03:11 PM
#24
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, MI
Posts: 460
Total Cats: 15
Big picture though, it's just how things are. I often explain it this way. say I popularized shoes in 3/4 sizes because they fit peoples feet better. I can't patent a size. It gets copied and I have to move on to the next idea. Using the shoe analogy, Skechers has made a billion dollar business (one of the worlds largest) in barely 20 years by openly stealing current industry leading designs and recreating it in cheap knockoffs. Americans buy them up never even having seen the originals. Skechers is an 800lb gorilla that Nike and Adidas worry about. Not a single damn original idea there.
So what does that say about stealing IP an making a business of copying other peoples work? It says that it's a pretty good business model, shameless and of questionable ethics though it may be.
So what does that say about stealing IP an making a business of copying other peoples work? It says that it's a pretty good business model, shameless and of questionable ethics though it may be.
TBH the biggest problem you have isn't people knocking you off, it's not having parts in stock. I wanted a set of 15x8 6ULs a couple years ago but couldn't wait 3 months so I ended up with a set of TRs. I want to make the jump to 15x9s soon and I'm trying to wait for the Gen 4s so I don't settle again but when this set of tires is done I'm buying something. I can't buy what isn't available.
Reply
0
0
04-05-2014, 09:16 PM
#26
... Using the shoe analogy, Skechers has made a billion dollar business (one of the worlds largest) in barely 20 years by openly stealing current industry leading designs and recreating it in cheap knockoffs. Americans buy them up never even having seen the originals. Skechers is an 800lb gorilla that Nike and Adidas worry about. Not a single damn original idea there.
So what does that say about stealing IP an making a business of copying other peoples work? It says that it's a pretty good business model, shameless and of questionable ethics though it may be.
So what does that say about stealing IP an making a business of copying other peoples work? It says that it's a pretty good business model, shameless and of questionable ethics though it may be.
Suggestion - applying for a patent is cheap and no one has access to your filing for at least a year (and longer if you only want to file in the US). You then have patent pending status until the patent issues (or does not). In the meantime, your competition has to make a decision - if they copy you, and for some reason, your patent issues then you can pound them. Best case (if you can't get a patent or design patent on wheels) you may be able to buy yourself a year or more of time ahead of your competition. Worst case, your competition is always looking over their shoulder, worrying about what happens tom them, if your patent ever issues. Provisional patent filings are dirt cheap and get you pat. pend. status.
Reply
0
0
04-05-2014, 11:29 PM
#28
Newb
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 3
Total Cats: -2
Emilio, your 6ul definitely is a game changer. Light, innovative and looks superb. Not sure if anyone can compare. As long as companies stays true to their valued clients, doesn't matter if someone else copies them, clients will remain loyal.
Pllleeeaaasssseeee let us know on the first batch. The community is literally on our knees awaiting the new gen lol. And everyone who has the previous won't let them go either!
Pllleeeaaasssseeee let us know on the first batch. The community is literally on our knees awaiting the new gen lol. And everyone who has the previous won't let them go either!
Reply
0
0
04-05-2014, 11:30 PM
#29
No. But, my point was that once you file, your claims are confidential. Emilio knows what innovations (such as manufacturing processes, material, structure, or even a design...) may possibly be novel and what to claim. His competitors have no idea what he may claim in a patent application. He just marks the boxes with "Patent Pending". Are they going to take a risk knocking him off, not knowing what he is claiming in his pending patent? This, at a minimum, could buy you some time to sell his product without being copied.
Last edited by 05pearl; 04-05-2014 at 11:40 PM.
Reply
0
0
04-05-2014, 11:35 PM
#30
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Searcy, AR
Posts: 149
Total Cats: -2
Emilio, your 6ul definitely is a game changer. Light, innovative and looks superb. Not sure if anyone can compare. As long as companies stays true to their valued clients, doesn't matter if someone else copies them, clients will remain loyal.
Pllleeeaaasssseeee let us know on the first batch. The community is literally on our knees awaiting the new gen lol. And everyone who has the previous won't let them go either!
Pllleeeaaasssseeee let us know on the first batch. The community is literally on our knees awaiting the new gen lol. And everyone who has the previous won't let them go either!
Reply
0
0
04-06-2014, 11:46 AM
#33
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 167
Total Cats: 2
I'm in the shoe biz - how do you know about Sketchers? You are right, they make cheap copies and they are good at it.
Suggestion - applying for a patent is cheap and no one has access to your filing for at least a year (and longer if you only want to file in the US). You then have patent pending status until the patent issues (or does not). In the meantime, your competition has to make a decision - if they copy you, and for some reason, your patent issues then you can pound them. Best case (if you can't get a patent or design patent on wheels) you may be able to buy yourself a year or more of time ahead of your competition. Worst case, your competition is always looking over their shoulder, worrying about what happens tom them, if your patent ever issues. Provisional patent filings are dirt cheap and get you pat. pend.
Suggestion - applying for a patent is cheap and no one has access to your filing for at least a year (and longer if you only want to file in the US). You then have patent pending status until the patent issues (or does not). In the meantime, your competition has to make a decision - if they copy you, and for some reason, your patent issues then you can pound them. Best case (if you can't get a patent or design patent on wheels) you may be able to buy yourself a year or more of time ahead of your competition. Worst case, your competition is always looking over their shoulder, worrying about what happens tom them, if your patent ever issues. Provisional patent filings are dirt cheap and get you pat. pend.
949 is a fantastic company and very innovative but the things you create you must keep in stock or customers will go elsewhere. wheels, coilovers (now a higher rate ohlins availble for $2700) and whatever else people want and can't get.
Reply
0
0
04-07-2014, 11:26 PM
#35
No one may be knocking off the 6UL directly. But, the IP strategy I mentioned above may give Emilio some breathing room. A patent pending will work better than no IP at all.
Reply
0
0
04-08-2014, 09:29 AM
#36
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mass.
Posts: 811
Total Cats: 43
It's not a China problem. Companies all over the world have their goods manufactured in China - to compete on price. If China were not the world's manufacturer, popular items would be knocked off somewhere else.
No one may be knocking off the 6UL directly. But, the IP strategy I mentioned above may give Emilio some breathing room. A patent pending will work better than no IP at all.
No one may be knocking off the 6UL directly. But, the IP strategy I mentioned above may give Emilio some breathing room. A patent pending will work better than no IP at all.
I just don't see a way to seal up IP around offset/size.
-Zach
Reply
0
0
04-08-2014, 12:58 PM
#39
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 15,177
Total Cats: 1,681
I think the lack of wheel stock is a huge problem. There have been a few times in the past that I have had cash ready to buy a set of 6UL's and they were not available. So I took that cash and spent it on other things. I understand that keeping inventory costs a large amount to store them, but I don't only want to buy rims during 2 seasons of the year.
Reply
0
0
04-08-2014, 01:03 PM
#40
I think the lack of wheel stock is a huge problem. There have been a few times in the past that I have had cash ready to buy a set of 6UL's and they were not available. So I took that cash and spent it on other things. I understand that keeping inventory costs a large amount to store them, but I don't only want to buy rims during a couple months of the year.
I have wanted to buy them for every car I have owned with 4x100 bolt pattern but every time they are out of stock.
Reply
0
0
