Yeah, that top with the LED looks sick as hell... It would take the aluminum problem out... :rofl:
Printable View
Yeah, that top with the LED looks sick as hell... It would take the aluminum problem out... :rofl:
Yeah you have a point. Its really up to the controller of the IP whether to file a civil suit based on merit. A top directly copied should have some level of merit from a design or visual standpoint. But if enough changes were made, than the suit would loose merit.
Also in regards to the design its only a top and therefore Swiftech would most likely not want to file suit due to the fact that you still have to buy the GTX to begin with so there is conceivebly no lost funds. The might want to sue base on defamation, where the aftermarket top could be giving them a bad name.
Alot of mass marketed auto parts are made with the blessing of the auto manufacturer and even supported, but the fitting of the part is the burden of the after market amnufacturer as the auto guys will enver release their CAD info on any of their cars. Also the aftermarket car parts are not replicating the actual parts but are replacing them so no real IP is being tread upon.
THe biggest law suit now is between didge and geico. Geico is so large that they make there own parts to replace damaged ones cause in accidents. THeir parts are $125 compared to Dodge's $450. Big saving to Geico, but Dodgne isnt about it and its been like 12 year law suit.
A better example would be customized Xbox 360 cases. I see these selling for $50-300 each. Microsoft sues anyone and everything they can, for any reason. If Microsoft had a leg to stand on, these guys would be out of business.
This isn't about making money, it's about protecting intellectual property
In any case, if this guy actually mass produced and sold the top, and Swiftech actually did something to stop him - Their company would look like the RIAA of the modding community. This is an entire industry built around customizing anything and everything. They would be nuts to try and get in the way ;)
and making sure that the statue of limitations is still in effect...
if a trademark, patent, or a copyright has been violated and left as such, the company eventually will loose ability to enforce their rights if a certain amount of time passes...
hence major brands go hunting here and there... for counterfeiting...
if you/your brand is imitated, it is a good thing... because your product is wanted... and these brands do understand the PR value of counterfeits/knockoffs and such... but they still have to release their legal dogs out once in a while...
Eh, to heck with IP.
Anyway...
Finished!
you're right. up to now they concentrate on coolers for mainboards. I'll get one for my P5W, too :)
they've taken notice of this thread as well ;)
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3162/grpwmmb6.jpg
acrylic top is a no no. better off with the nickel/zinc plated aluminum top.
If they're reading this, then they should know that they make really nice, impressive stuff. I have a lot of respect for people with the skills and knowhow to create things like this. :worship:
I wish I could do things like that instead of the typical "cram your Mountainmods/Lian Li case with expensive stuff" watercooling that is prevalent (and that I'm guilty of as well.)
As for Petra making tops, maybe it would be cheaper if we all pitched in and got him a lathe, CNC machine and sent him to trade school for a year. :D
Because of cracking MaxR? That was one issue I thought of that comes up here a lot. The 2nd issue would be that metal expands with heat at a more similar rate than acrylic which might be connected in turn with the cracking.
$.02
why? all my coolers have acrylic tops :) they usually don't break or something :)
http://www.imagebanana.com/img/5nkqi...0190_small.jpg
LOL!
As cool as that would be, Quoc would probably prefer that I didn't spend all of my time prototyping everything imaginable... :rolleyes: Granted, if you guys really do think that getting rid of 300 Delrin and/or brass Apogee GTX tops wouldn't be an issue, then I may start tinkering in Solidworks to see what I can come up with...
I'd take expanding into account when you want to use a chiller. I've seen some coolers with acrylic-tops cracking, because the temperature difference was too high.
delta L = alphat * delta T * L
L: Length
delta T: difference in Temperature
alphat: temperature coefficient, which is for copper 0,0000618 1/°C or 1/°K
if you use them in a normal wc setup, they're not likely to crack.
I'd have paid a $100 easily for an all copper GTX. Remember that us enthusiasts are willing to go the extra mile to pay for any perceived performance gain and/or peace of mind for having no alu at all.
If you've got one right now, let me know as my credit card's ready.