Thermwood Corporation ProjectPAK Thermwood Corporation
Post a Response Subscribe Guidelines

Woodworking Business

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

RE: Starting New Wood Business

4/12/19       
Ken

If a new company is started with a specific productline(s), and new & existing employees are manufacturing the product, how do we, as a company, protect ourselves from employees taking the new product and starting their own business?

These employees are in the wood business, but they have NEVER manufactured anything like this before.

What about a trademark on specific products?

4/12/19       #2: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
rich c.

Sounds rather familiar. http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forums/business.pl?read=832038

4/13/19       #4: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
Dennis A.

Don't confuse a trademark with a design patent. A design patent is a way to protect a specific product with unique features, a trademark is used to protect a product name, slogan, logo ,etc. I am currently in the process of getting a trademark for a product (brand name), not particularly difficult so far, but does take some time. They say it could take up to a year for the mark to be granted - if there are no conflicts found during the search. With a trademark you will be able to ,at least, differentiate your product from any potential copy cats. I'm not sure that I have the intestinal fortitude, or deep enough pockets, to defend a design patent, even if one was granted, so I feel that a trademark is at least some way of identifying my product and if granted is enforceable.

4/13/19       #5: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
Bill

There is an old expression. You need a patent and a million $ to defend it. It’s an old expression so you probably need more than a million now. If your idea is unique and that easy to copy your employees are likely not going to be the problem. It will be an outside company. They will copy it and launch it to the market and the by the time you react they will be out there. If they change the product slightly it is very hard to defend.

For employees a simple non compete will fix your concern but I don’t think that is worth the effort.

Good luck on your new business

4/13/19       #6: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
MarkB Member

Im with Bill, Your employees are the least of your concerns. Social media, global manufacturing, will get you far before any employee can break out and setup to rip you off.

Seems to me the hope is that you have a product that is unique enough, some facet of it that makes a lot of people only want to buy it from you, or has enough brand loyalty, that you can survive the knock offs. Or you have a product/process/features that affords the patent process and the cost to defend it.

Rich's post is spot on, starting out a process with the paranoia that your staff are the enemy, is a recipe for failure. If you want to incent them to not rip you off compensate them or cut them in with a profit sharing agreement as well as the non-compete. At that point you will hopefully have a large percentage of them as soldiers in your army as opposed to the gorilla terrorist employees you seem to think they are by default.

4/13/19       #7: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
Pat Gilbert

Don't get distracted

https://youtu.be/nZm0JlZXXCk

Paul Akers on patents

4/15/19       #9: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
Larry

Pat, excellent video.
Ken, what did you think of Paul Akers presentation?
I wouldn't worry about employees. Few would have the drive, time or $ to knock your product off.
Marketing will probably be your biggest challenge if you try to do it alone.
The first sign that you have a great, $ making product will be when the market is flooded with the Chinese version.

4/15/19       #10: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
Pat Gilbert

In which case you could buy the product from the Chinese and just sell it

4/16/19       #11: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
Adam B

I agree with Rich C, this seems like a re-post from a week or so ago, just under a different name. Funny on the original post how the OP asked a question , got some good responses, and never once was heard from again. This post seems to be heading in that direction also.

Ken, your focus/concern is way off. I can't think of any better way to ensure tension inside of your company, which is not a good thing. Wouldn't it be easier to post a sign on the shop floor stating that you are better than them and they should just be happy to work for you?

Note to self, Never work for Ken or Tommy.

4/21/19       #12: RE: Starting New Wood Business ...
robert

Ken,

The product line you mentioned is the uniqueness have to do with form or function? If it is form then just file a copyright on it, see the attached PDF. It will cost around $50 the copyright office will give a 90% boilerplate rejections of the application but if you resend the copyright application and restate why your design is unique you will get a 90% chance they will accept it. If you want a lawyer to file it will cost $150-200. If you file the copyright within a year of the product going into production and if you go to trail and win against the company that infringes on your copyright, that company has to pay your attorney's fees. It is more likely an attorney may take your case pro bono if they know all their fees will be paid.

Click the link below to download the file included with this post.

Copyright_VA_Form.pdf

https://www.copyright.gov/registration/visual-arts/index.html


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
    • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!
    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)



    • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Related Information:
    Knowledge Base: Estimating, Accounting and Profitability | Legal | Marketing

    Recent Threads at all Forums