PCB copy rights/writes ?

[Fivetide]

Hi , I have a small PCB which I bought of a commercial retailer. Its the third one because I have been experimenting with layout and parts. The latest PCB I bought is perfect for my project, the layout is excellent and the dimensions for my hand made enclosure is perfect to. But the question is if I send that PCB off to a manufacturer for a quote I must be doing some sort of copywrite infringement or do I use software and to copy the layout / dimensions etc and send that? The simple fact is that as a fairly new hobbyist I can’t improve on the board.
Any advice please ?

[Saturnus]

Is the use you're going to use it for significantly different that what the original PCB was intended for? Because even if something isn't copyrighted, you're not allowed to use a specific design without prior written consent, if the use is similar to what the original design was intended for.

[marce]

Copying a layout is again breaking copyright laws, it is reverse engineering a design.

[Fivetide]

Originally Posted by marce

Copying a layout is again breaking copyright laws, it is reverse engineering a design.

I sort of knew the answer but need to clarify it by you guys, I would be well hacked off if I had spent ages refining a build only for someone to claim it. So I’m totally agreeing with the copy right laws.
I have an Idea though, I don’t mind buying the boards of the retailer the cost is fine and they are excellent quality, I may ask them if they would supply me with some unbranded ones.
If that fails I will be back to see if anyone else has any ideas lol J

[marce]

Just down the raod from me Fivetide, I'm in sunny Blackburn.
It is dodgy ground, because even if you copy a layout and change the physical apearence you are still basing it on the same circuit diagram. Quite often the best way is to do as you are thinking and licence a product, or if there is a standard recomended circuit (quite often forund on data sheets) use that and have your own board done.
Quite often engineers will copy the standard reference circuit for a design as it makes life easier, this though further complicates the CR issue, and gives the lawyers a field day.

[SY]

Reverse engineering is fine and legal, even if based on someone else's circuit- copying a layout is copyright infringement. Buy the board from the legal owner or get permission from him.

[DF96]

Under UK law any unauthorised copying is a copyright infringement, although if it is strictly for personal use (i.e. not commercial) then you are likely to get away with it. If a manufacturer is producing PCBs for a particular design (presumably under licence from the copyright holder) then any unauthorised changes would be a copyright infringement. You can't make PCBs for Bloggs and ship them out of your front door, and make unbranded ones to the same design and ship them out of your back door - although this does seem to go on in those parts of the world where copyright is not taken seriously.

[Fivetide]

Originally Posted by marce

Just down the raod from me Fivetide, I'm in sunny Blackburn. .

Hey Marce, I went to school in (not so sunny) Blackburn many moons ago lol

If they would unbrand the board I could get them at £2.60 each @ 50 which in all honesty would save me a lot of time and head scratching and its a very small part of the overall cost..

[marce]

Interesting Sy, I always thought reverse engineering was illegal, not that I have ever looked at a competitors product at any firm where I have worked. But in the States and Europe it seems it is legal, I can sleep easier at nights now, but I did always think it was an illegal activity.

[SY]

It's sometimes shady in a moral sense, but once you've bought a piece of hardware, it's yours to do with as you like. If the circuit is patented, there may be infringement issues if you build it, but if it's just for yourself for the purposes of experimentation, it's perfectly legal.