New trend, ripping off successful Kickstarters

[frenky]

ZNAPS magnetic adapter team gathered 3 mio CAD to make their project a reality:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1041610927/znaps-the-9-magnetic-adapter-for-your-mobile-devic/comments

Few days after their campaign closed somebody published a ripoff product hoping to get some easy $$$ :
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1258815423/magcable-make-your-life-easier/description

[Mechanical Menace]

And they both ripped off Apple, who ripped off electric rice cookers...


There does seem to be differences in the design of the contacts though.

[codeboy2k]

I thought magnetic cables were patented by Apple?  I'll have to read the patent to see what's covered in detail,  but maybe someone here already knows.

[eas]

This isn't exactly new, is it?  I mean, any successful product is going to have imitators. VC's race to fund me-too's to startups that haven't even shipping a product. This is just part of that pattern.

I guess the Kickstarter element might be enough to seek a business process patent . If you have to defend it, I hear East Texas courts are the preferred venue.

[pickle9000]

One thing I like about the stuff Dave does (ucurrent). There is a certain screw you aspect to it. Go ahead build one but don't do it commercially it will be a losing proposition.

[frenky]

Well this was expected...

You can already buy USB magnetic connector on aliexpress: http://goo.gl/UWYOd5

[bitseeker]

I thought magnetic cables were patented by Apple?

Yes, Apple patented it despite all the prior art. Magnetically attached power cables aren't new and weren't invented by Apple. Not the first time a company has done such a thing.

[bitseeker]

This isn't exactly new, is it?  I mean, any successful product is going to have imitators. VC's race to fund me-too's to startups that haven't even shipping a product. This is just part of that pattern.

I guess the Kickstarter element might be enough to seek a business process patent . If you have to defend it, I hear East Texas courts are the preferred venue.

Yep, cloning products isn't new either. I guess since many Kickstarters are first-timers, it's quite upsetting when they encounter this aspect of business.

Getting a patent is part of the game, but then you have to be able to afford to enforce it.

[Mechatrommer]

Yes, Apple patented it despite all the prior art. Magnetically attached power cables aren't new and weren't invented by Apple. Not the first time a company has done such a thing.

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