Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/01/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 01:15 PM 1999-01-09 -0800, Peter Kotsinadelis wrote: >You guys are funny. Hey, this is a Leica list but understand everyone is a >thief is probably closer to the truth. Zeiss took many basic lens designs >from others like British lens designers Cooke and Thornton. Goerz was also >copying other designs, Zeiss copying Goerz, Leica using the triplet-type >designs of Zeiss with modification of course. No, this wasn't the case. When Zeiss or Leitz used a patented design, they paid the licensing fee. This is why the initial Leica had an "Anastigmat" lens: Berek used a Tessar formula, still protected by the Zeiss patent, and so he was required to use the Zeiss-mandated name. When the Zeiss patent expired, this name -- but not the lens formula! -- was changed, all legal and proper, to Elmax. Zeiss owned Goerz, so they had every legal right to use Goerz designs. Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!