[Performance Catapults]

The process has been put into motion to acquire a non-provisional, utility patent for the Performance Catapults brand, concept of slingshot construction and materials. This notice is merely a courtesy FYI, in case any craftsman or vendor is considering the sales of slingshots resembling a construction likeness to the Performance Catapults brand.

There is no obligation at this point for me to go into details regarding the patent, nor will I disclose any information until the application is published, as advised from my patent attorney.

Being a part of this community for a few years now, I felt giving this notice was appropriate in the best interest of the community.

- Jim

 

[Performance Catapults]

The Non Provisional Patent application is now published. It can be viewed at the following link - http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2012/0279482.html. This is just the published application. What does this mean? In a nutshell, I now have provisional rights. It could be 6 months to a year before a decision is made, whether or not to grant a patent. Could be sooner, could be later. If a patent is granted, and I feel I have been infringed upon, I could seek royalties back to this date. Now, whether or not the product has to match the Performance Catapults brand product, I'm not sure. My attorney's contact info is available in the link, if anyone has any questions regarding the patent application, and whether or not it applies to anyones product.

 

[Performance Catapults]

So 1 question is if I were to make a slingshot with a metal core and then sell it would that be infringement? Although bills sling that won this months ssotm has a metal core, if that we're made passed the date of the patent, would that infringe? I only ask because metal core slingshots are fairly common now I'm sure in part because of you

If I feel that the design has been infringed upon, I would respond by requesting whom ever, to cease promoting and production. But, this thread is to aid with any confusion there might be. Personally, if it were me, I would not want to risk making someone elses designed product, and be selling it, without permission. Infringement is decided by a judge. If I were sued, I don't have the time to pack my bags and go to court in some other state. If you want to make metal core slingshots, PM me, and we can negotiate a deal that benefits us both.

Before I was making slingshots, I sold racing memorabilia with images of racing athletes on poker chips. I'm not a photographer, so I had to pay for the photos I used, even though alot of images can be easily lifted off the web. Furthermore, I had to negotiate a contract with the athlete to use his/her likeness on the product, and the royalty rate to be payed for each item sold.

The same applies here. Now, are replicated metal core slingshots similar enough to Performance Catapults brand? Who knows? But if it's close, and requests are ignored, do you want to risk it?

I haven't posted any of this to create enemies within the community. I took a financial risk with filing the patent application, and I'm only doing what I need to do, to protect my concept and idea

 

[Performance Catapults]

Hi Jim did you file this yourself or use a Patent eterne/solicitor also did you do the description on the claimes section
I see you used a free Patent aplication is this the way they are done in the US it a lot less complcated than the UK

I hired an attorney. Figured it would most likely be the first and last time I did anything like this. Wanted to be sure it was done right.