garthsnooks Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 and want to make a production or any other kind of mold or sell a bait to someone...DON"T TELL ANYONE OTHER THAN YOUR WIFE!! wait, err, yeah, you can tell her if you are getting along.... In the last 2 years i have experienced a real eye opening experience. Gave a 2 baits (one a plastic, the other a hard bait) that i was wanting to make to a couple of importers that said knew some people in China that could do it...well, "China" didn't work out (not a lot of money spent about $600 on prototypes)...and I learned something new about world geography, that Memphis,Tennessee and Arkansas are now be part of China, who knew?! As two companies, one in each state have made their version of my baits....one ultra successful!! It's all on me, being trusting, gullible enough to believe my "secrets were safe"..just remember to "trust but verify" as least as much as possible!!! China, or anywhere else can knock your idea off via a cell phone or other ways in short order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rixon529 Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 They say there's nothing new under the sun in the world of fishing lures any more. I disagree. If you've got a special bait that might be worth something in the market on a production level basis, then a patent is in order. Not a cheap route, but then what is these days? Non-disclosure agreements are also an avenue if you're talking to others about a non-patented lure. Business can easily be a cut-throat affair, even when you think you're dealing with respectable, ethical businessmen or business entities. You need to be sure to CYA (cover your a**) at all times. When all is said and done, you may think that your attorneys (like Dewgoode, Befayre & Prosper) will be there when you need them and take care of you, but when they're up against the big boys attorneys (like Dewey, Cheatam & Howe), it can easily become a very different game. Chalk it up to lessons learned - the hard way. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinamike Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Many others besides you have learned this lesson, there are no secrets in china, as soon as you submit your design they start marketing it to bigger names with more money. I know a gentleman that was actually having a product produced in china and all of the sudden he was told that they could no longer produce the bait, a few months later one of the big companies came out with the exact same bait, I mean it was exactly the same bait and guess what it said on the bag, you got it, "made in china". That is the reason soft plastics are slowly coming back to the U.S., there is no honesty and you get poor quality and its almost impossible to send them back, when it comes to soft plastics there is something to be said for made in America. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Made in America means jobs in America. Cheap crap is just that, cheap crap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ipt Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 sorry to hear. gotta get patents on that stuff if you think you have a legit idea. now that its already stolen, im curious what bait it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garthsnooks Posted February 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 rather not say which baits were involved...or people, I'm sure it wouldn't profit anyone to reveal identities. "gotta get patents" is very easy to say but is a very expensive proposal if done right...not opposed to it but you have to be REAL CONVINCED that you have a home run bait and money to defend your patent. I was wanting just to have the bait on the market first (at least)...and go from there. lesson learned and I still know there aren't any iron clad guarantees...when there are people and money involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolinamike Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Guys one thing everyone needs to keep in mind, there's no such thing as a US patent in China, as far as the Chinese are concerned. It's all about money to those folks. When a product is being made that far away, you have no idea who they're marketing your product to. They don't just produce for the US. Remember in the fishing industry, they pretty much go by the golden rule: the one with the gold rules. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lakeside Molds Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Unfortunately you can't trust ANYONE in this industry. I had my plans ripped off and got stabbed in the back by my own son!! Thought he was a better person than that but $$$ and greed will do funny things to people so be careful! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garthsnooks Posted February 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Sad, CPA...as someone who has had to overcome a "love of money, greed" (a generational curse in family) I understand greed. I see greed, theft as our not trusting God to bless and prosper us, our ideas, therefore we take 'short cuts'...like stealing dad's baits!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
