Design copied?

Russinating · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:36

Few of you may know of a watch company called Mr Jones watches. I found them about 3 years ago and liked their small range at the time (and the fact that I am Mr Jones). About 2 years ago I emailed the owner with a design idea I had that I mocked up when I was bored one evening. He replied to my email and said it was great although he already had far too many ideas of his own just not enough time.

Anyway 2 years later and they've released a watch that's pretty similar, both in name and design. The main difference is the face colour though that's not exactly a massive thing to change. I have no idea if it's similar enough for me to be angry, although I can't help but feel I provided a little bit of inspiration!

I wouldn't want to sue the bloke but if it is indeed similar enough to warrant such action then a free watch wouldn't go amiss

.

Anyway, what do you guys think?

My design two years ago, sent to them (and received acknowledgement):

Their watch, just released, called 'Satellite' (mrjoneswatches.com/satellite):

malfunkshun · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:39

they are damned similar, I do prefer yours tbh.

Benihana · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:39

Hmm, personally I think the look is quite different to yours, just IMHO!

Bennie-Mac · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:40

That screams of "change it in every way but keep it the same".

Russinating · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:40

Also, this is from my original email that I sent describing it:

The watch is based on three rotating discs - hours, minutes and seconds - around the central MJW logo. The discs are marked with a coloured circle which denotes the position (and so time) of each disc. The colours have been chosen to represent Mercury (Orange), Venus (Blue) and Earth (Green), the three orbiting planets closest to our sun. Alongside this the disc orders have been changed - that is, the outer disc is hours, the middle disc seconds and the inner disc minutes. While providing a unique alternative to the standard order it also represents an orbit visually, with the middle disc rotating the quickest.

And from their email promoting it...

The watch has an unconventional arrangement of hour and minute hands: the slow moving hour marker sits outside the the minutes. This was inspired by the movement of celestial bodies: the more distant a planet is from the centre of mavity the longer it's orbit takes.

platypus · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:41

I'd say they've pretty much copied your design, but given the length of time elapsed he may be able to argue that he can't remember where his inspiration came from, especially since you sent it 2 years ago. It could be a perfectly honest mistake.

cHk4 · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:42

They straight up robbed your design.

'Harry · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:43

It's a copy. You should be proud.

Edrof · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:43

The concept is exactly the same. Exactly!

Jambo · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:44

cHk4 said:
They straight up robbed your design.

Not really. He gave them it.

Why did you send them it?

Russinating · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:44

platypus said:
I'd say they've pretty much copied your design, but given the length of time elapsed he may be able to argue that he can't remember where his inspiration came from, especially since you sent it 2 years ago. It could be a perfectly honest mistake.

I'd imagine that's probably a fairly accurate timeframe give or take a few months for initial design to build and final production?

Russinating · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:46

Jambo said:
Not really. He gave them it.

Why did you send them it?

Because I thought they might like it and make it and give me some commission or at least a free watch. In my original email I say "...but if you're interested in using the design or basing another watch on this concept then I'd love to chat!"

platypus · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:48

Russinating said:
I'd imagine that's probably a fairly accurate timeframe give or take a few months for initial design to build and final production?

I have no idea how long it takes to design and build a watch

.

'Harry · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:49

End of the day you gave it to them. Unless it's copyright material there is nothing you can do about it. Chalk it up to experience and move on.

Edrof · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:50

I'd like to add that your concept is far nicer than the current product.

TrixiBuG · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:50

If you released your watch now (which is much much nicer btw) I think you would come up against copy right laws (ignoring the fact that you sent him the design idea a few years back ofc)

I think it is worth contacting and asking (in a nice way)...complimenting them on the release of their new watch and then jogging there memories of the design you sent them a few years back and how similar it looks etc etc and go from there

You don't ask you don't get

McGray · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:51

It's the same.

Ask for a free watch at least.

Yours is definitely better too.

Jambo · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:52

Russinating said:
Because I thought they might like it and make it and give me some commission or at least a free watch. In my original email I say "...but if you're interested in using the design or basing another watch on this concept then I'd love to chat!"

If you are going to do something like that then it would be advisable to have the company sign a contract entitling you to commission before you send any designs.

I'm not sure you'd have a case in this instance but it may be worth checking with a lawyer.

ThomasTheTankEngine · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:53

Very similar. His one looks like a rubber "batman" themed childrens version.

BlackCoat2k10 · 15 Nov 2012 at 13:54

Sue them for everything... ahem.

Nice watch, designs and concepts look too similar for him to get away with this scot free. (perhaps he thinks you wouldn't notice?). The main issue is that it has been 2 years since you willingly sent them an email containing the design without negotiating anything beforehand or implicating anything before sending design to him.