I may regret starting another Harrison thread, but I thought I'd pass along this article as it finally names who bought out the rights, assets, and patents of Harrison.
I was at the Gussow/Shellist deal on Saturday and there was a gentleman at my table with a B-Rad, and of course the whole topic came up and the big question was if they would go back into production. Seems like it will be -no- according to the article you provided. In a nutshell, if the new owner of the patents and rights starts producing the b-rads, they would have to pay restitution. Maybe it would be worth it for them to do that....at least fulfill the back orders and/or honor refunds. ---------- Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy. -Dan Castellaneta
Last Edited by on Sep 17, 2012 2:46 PM
IF the harp makes its way back into production, what I can see happening is the new owner company making a change or two to the design, as is their right, to prevent restitution suits from being technically legitimate, and producing their own spin on the B-Rad under a new name free and clear of legal repercussions. It's been done before in manufacturing techniques. But of course, it won't really be a genuine B-Rad. ----------
Whoa, ruff article, none consoling ...I'm one of the lucky ones, I got mine....But why handle this like it is...you think his ATTORNEYS are advising him to run and hide?
Someone on Harp-L has mentioned that they know and talk to Harrison. All they were willing to say is that Harrison is still in Chicago. Not that that says a lot but.... ----------
Assuming we are talking about amounts of money that would be hard for this company to absorb, what I'd do if I were them is sit on the information until the statute of limitations ran out on the debt. That's usually 7 years, depending on the state, and patents run, what, 14 years? Depending on the dates on the patents there might be a window to start up or sell the patents in that remaining time. Of course if they started manufacturing it would be hard to win back people who lost money on it, and the patents might not bring much if they sold them off if they had nearly run their course, although companies seem to release a new flagship model every couple of years anyway, so it might be worth it if they can spin them as legendary harps from a company shrouded in mystery coming back from the grave.
I read a really good article recently on patent law. It pointed out that in fashion, food and perfume you can't get a patent for most things, but that those industries tend to be very creative. People pay for good design and a name brand and everyone makes knock off copies on the cheap for an entirely different, poorer market. The point of patents, at least originally, wasn't to guarantee inventors a profit, but to give them just enough protection so it was worth the investment and risk to innovate. As product life cycles keep getting shorter the 14 year patent may be doing more to hurt innovation than help it. (Wasn't Brendan Powers saying the Sub30 got shelved for a long time because no one had all the patents?)
No one's saying they're forbidden from taking it back to production and make them, it's just that even though they hold the patents, if they start making the harps again they COULD be held accountable for restitution to anyone who preordered and got hosed. So they're more than likely just biding their time and testing the waters to see if this will be a beneficial endeavor. ----------
I agree with you there. I think it would all depend on exactly how large and successful the new company currently is, but if they could manage it, and followed through, it would be a major boost to their reputation. ----------
The new company announced that they had purchased the assets. Not the company, they specifically said the assets.
Let's say I have a company making prosthetic frog legs. I go out of business, but there is an electric bill that is unpaid. The bank takes the company's assets. Then, it sells those assets. You come along and purchase all my molds for prosthetic frog legs - all my frog-leg technology is now yours.
So now, you have all this stuff for making synthetic frog legs. Do you think you are legally obligated to pay my electric bill? You've got my frog-leg patent. Do you think that if unless you put four black spots, where I had three, on the legs, you'll have to pay that bill?
Or if you'd rather, substitute electric bill for unfilled prosthetic frog leg orders, although debt is debt. You didn't purchase company or the debt, just the assets.
I personally wouldn't blame you for biding your time and moving carefully. You want your frog leg company to succeed where mine failed.
Everybody knows I was a manager at HH. I have had no affiliation with the new company. I've never talked to the new company.
Right now I'm just another guy who ordered five harmonicas, but only got two and will wait to see what happens.
---------- David
____________________ At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong. R.I.P. H. Cecil Payne
That's very true MJ. I was actually responding to comments about what might happen if they started making harmonicas again and wasn't trying to refute anything you had said. ---------- David
____________________ At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong. R.I.P. H. Cecil Payne
.. Still thinking about those poor little frogs... Man .. uhmmm.. glad I'm a turtle ---------- Greg Jones 16:23 Custom Harmonicas greg@1623customharmonicas.com 1623customharmonicas.com
We were trying to help those poor frogs by fitting them with prosthetics. Remember in the Muppet Movie where the villian went around cutting the legs from frogs for his restaurant and chased Kermit the whole movie. That was my inspiration. ---------- David
____________________ At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong. R.I.P. H. Cecil Payne
Dave, ever since I caught sight of your frog legs comment yesterday, I've had The Muppet Movie running through my head off and on. Damn you! LOL ----------
My Wife and I went to see "Finding Nemo" yesterday in 3D and it is rated (G) for GROWNUPS...A real tear jerker right from the get go...I won't spoil the ending but - Nemos Mother and his siblings get eatin by a Barracuda in the first 3 minutes of the film :(
Last Edited by on Sep 19, 2012 7:41 AM
Last Edited by on Sep 18, 2012 12:44 PM
