Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/15

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Konica KM mount
From: "Anthony Atkielski" <anthony@atkielski.com>
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 19:33:32 +0200

From: Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>
Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 15:40
Subject: Re: [Leica] Konica KM mount


> But those were rights within those countries only.  [...]

For what it's worth, patent rights are valid for only 17 years in the United
States, and they are not renewable.  After that, anyone can do anything with the
previously-patented methods or devices.  For example, Sony patented its
Trinitron aperture grille technology for television picture tubes in 1973, and
had exclusive rights to that technology for 17 years.  In 1990, the patent
expired, and now lots of companies make aperture-grille picture tubes (although
only Sony can call them Trinitrons--the Trinitron trademark is valid
indefinitely).

  -- Anthony