rcbv

I think the OP should speak with an attorney and see if they think it's worth sending a cease and desist letter. Here is an excerpt from the U.S. government copyright web page which is pretty clear, although I agree with you about registering: When is my work protected? Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. Do I have to register with your office to be protected? No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work. See Circular 1, Copyright Basics, section “Copyright Registration.”

Good advice if there is any possibility of it becoming a legal issue. From copyright.gov "Copyright exists from the moment the work is created. You will have to register, however, if you wish to bring a lawsuit for infringement of a U.S. work."

Good call Mark, google dental spatula.

you could try these guys : http://www.smooth-on.com Their data sheets should list both shore hardness and modulus, I have no idea how they pour.

In theory the deep ribs are supposed to hold air and release it on retrieve, I've never fished a deep rib soft bait so I don't know in practice how well it works. All ribs,surface bumps and ridges are meant to cause turbulence/noise on retrieve.

Those bumps are not like the deep ribs. Makes a world of difference when machining, as we are finding out.

If you're serious about the .com you need to buy the domain name now while it's available.

Your post comes at a perfect time. I'm setting up to cut prototype aluminum molds. I've already done an open pour mold for one member for free while I worked through the process. I need to do the same thing for a two part mold and I'll offer you the same deal, I do all the CAD/CAM and will machine a two part mold for you as a freebie while I work all the kinks out of the process. This is in preparation for setting up a low cost custom mold prototyping service. One low price will include all the CAD/CAM and a one cavity mold. If you're interested go ahead and message me.

I don't really know, but it seems like it would be a good first step.

It makes it easier to go after someone for patent infringement if you can show that they knew about your patent and continued to be in violation. It's cheaper for the patent holder to send a letter than to have an attorney do it.

I forgot about something called the Doctrine of Equivalents for patents. It essentially says that if you make something that does the same thing as a patented item without infringing on the claims you may still be in violation unless your product is substantially different. In this case I would just copy some obvious prior art.

Someone on a different forum said they received a material safety data sheet (MSDS) from M-F Manufacturing Co. that indicated the material is 3M glass micro-balloons.

Unfortunately you can forget about the 10 or 15% rule, that's a myth. When you read a patent skip directly to the claims that were granted. In this case the claims describe a lure with very specific features that I described in my previous post. In general the more specific the claims the easier it is to circumvent.

It is the patent claims that define what is covered by the patent. I'm not an attorney but looking at the patent claims they do not appear broadly written. The more specific the patent claims are the weaker the patent is. Claim 1 A - the lure has floatation pockets (vacuoles) to make it float and the body contains elements that realease fish attractants - leave out the vacuoles and elements to contain and release fish attractants B - the lure has a forward facing conical/concave surface - use a cylinder shape or even two or more flat surfaces arranged as a Vee shape C - the lure must have at least one hook (and it has to go through the conic surface) - sell the lure unrigged Claims 2,3 and 4 were greyed out, so I don't know if that means they are dissallowed. Claim 2 - At least one hook is surrounded by a floatation sleeve - sell the lure unrigged Claim 3 - The lure contains a leader - sell the lure unrigged Claim 4 - The lure contains multiple floating appendages that disturb the water when the lure is retrieved - leave the wiggley bits off the lure I would run this by a patent attorney to be sure.

Hey texacan84, I'm setting up to cut aluminum molds which I have not done before and I might as well get my feet wet by making something someone can use. I'll cut your open pour mold for you as a freebie. If you want to give it a shot let me know.