MEMOTECH

General Chit Chat about Sinclair Computers and their Clones
User avatar
gammaray
Posts: 590
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2016 2:44 am
Location: Texas

MEMOTECH

Post by gammaray »

What would be the legality of reproducing MEMOTECH peripherals? Reverse engineering the old boards. Reproducing AL or plastic extrusions for cases. And selling at cost? or profit?
5-TS1000,UK ZX81<-Sheelagh, US ZX81, 2-TS1500/KDLX , 3-TS2040 printer, 2-TS2020 cassette decks, ZXPAND+AY, ZeddyNET, ZXBlast, UDG, ZX8CCB, AERCO, BUILDS/REPAIRS ZX Spectrum, ZX80 Minstrel, ZXMAX48 v1 v2, 2-TS-2068, ROM, 16kRAM
User avatar
mrtinb
Posts: 1906
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2015 5:44 pm
Location: Denmark
Contact:

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by mrtinb »

Maybe you could write the creators http://www.primrosebank.net/computers/memotech.htm
Martin
https://zx.rtin.be
ZX81, Lambda 8300, Commodore 64, Mac G4 Cube
User avatar
gammaray
Posts: 590
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2016 2:44 am
Location: Texas

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by gammaray »

I inquired about it. The clock is ticking, waiting for response...
5-TS1000,UK ZX81<-Sheelagh, US ZX81, 2-TS1500/KDLX , 3-TS2040 printer, 2-TS2020 cassette decks, ZXPAND+AY, ZeddyNET, ZXBlast, UDG, ZX8CCB, AERCO, BUILDS/REPAIRS ZX Spectrum, ZX80 Minstrel, ZXMAX48 v1 v2, 2-TS-2068, ROM, 16kRAM
paul ron
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2017 3:37 am
Location: nyc

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by paul ron »

it would be advisable to consult with a patent lawyer to investigate standing patents.

if so, then reproducing copies for sale would be illegal.

permission from the patent holders resulting in contract would be in your best interest.
The more you say the less people hear.
User avatar
Paul
Posts: 1511
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 8:15 am
Location: Germanys west end

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by Paul »

Patents normally have a duration of 20 years.
So no problem there.
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.
User avatar
1024MAK
Posts: 5102
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by 1024MAK »

You can often find out more if a patent is still active.

https://www.gov.uk/search-for-patent

As Paul says, unless someone is actively taking care of the rights, most would have expired. Except for copyright which will still be in force. The original Memotech company went into receivership after poor sales of their own computer design (the Memotech MTX500 and MTX512).

Then one of the original founders, Geoff Boyd bought up most (if not all) of it's assets, and started a new company (Memotech Computers Limited). This company sold MTX computers, but soon moved into the videowall business. They then used the stock of Memotech MTX computers as control systems for the videowall system.

It is however unclear what happened to the rights and possible stock of the ZX81 expansions. So it's unclear who may have the copyright now.

More info on Memotech here, and in much more depth here. Some financial details of the Memotech Computers Limited company here.

Mark
Last edited by 1024MAK on Sun Oct 15, 2017 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp

:!: Standby alert :!:
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
RWAP
Posts: 1348
Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 8:42 am
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Contact:

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by RWAP »

After this period of time, there is no problem with reverse engineering products and/or using their case designs (as the design rights have passed).

You have to check if there are any valid patents (as they can be renewed), but the main issue is any custom chips/ROMs as there will still be subject to copyright laws.

To be on the safe side, it is always worth dropping the originators a line if you can find them :)
User avatar
1024MAK
Posts: 5102
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:56 am
Location: Looking forward to summer in Somerset, UK...

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by 1024MAK »

My post above updated :mrgreen:
ZX81 Variations
ZX81 Chip Pin-outs
ZX81 Video Transistor Buffer Amp

:!: Standby alert :!:
There are four lights!
Step up to red alert. Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb :!:
Looking forward to summer later in the year.
User avatar
PokeMon
Posts: 2264
Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:48 pm

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by PokeMon »

RWAP wrote: Sun Oct 15, 2017 11:26 am After this period of time, there is no problem with reverse engineering products and/or using their case designs (as the design rights have passed).

You have to check if there are any valid patents (as they can be renewed), but the main issue is any custom chips/ROMs as there will still be subject to copyright laws.

To be on the safe side, it is always worth dropping the originators a line if you can find them :)
Patents are valid only 20 years and can not be renewed and I think this is the same as for an industrial design. Trademarks can be renewed for very long times (forever). And of course software can have rights of third parties and these rights (if applicable) are for the life of the (personal) owner +70 years (after death).

If software like ROM code is protected at all depends on many details. Software, especially drivers, need a specific level of cleverness to be protected. Anyway, 1:1 copies without permission are in general illegal, rewritten software which does the same function but with own code is in general allowed. At the end a court have to decide. So it is complicate.

So do the hardware is not problematic after 30 years as long as no software or ROMs needed. Schematics are in general not protected if not partly patented (if not expired after 20 years). PCB layouts are even not protectable if not plain art. Like creating Mona Lisa's face with pcb tracks or similar.
User avatar
Paul
Posts: 1511
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 8:15 am
Location: Germanys west end

Re: MEMOTECH

Post by Paul »

In order to give the thread a different direction :
Memotech expansions were great when they were first offered but nowadays make little sense to recreate.
Rampack with dynamic ram should better be static ram today. And with ZXPand and zxblast these are available.
Hrg module are not necessary any more and there is very little software supporting the Memotech Hrg.
Memotech serial port was very bad in quality and serial ports are available via the ZX-TEAM.
Centonics interfaces were very good but printers with Centonics interface are rarely available anymore. Something new should be developed here.
All the software modules were really very difficult to use.
So what would you like to reconstruct?
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.
Post Reply