Seven Towns vs. Dayan - Color Scheme Copyright Infringment

[tx789]

SO dayan first ten v cube take out the other compians one by one is this what they are going to do?

 

[The Bloody Talon]

maybe a stupid idea.. but do you think that there will be a possibility that the seven towns will buy/adopt the dayan's design?

 

[Jason Paris]

I think it's important to note here just how powerful the community is in this industry. Don't underestimate the power of a boycott. Verdes suffered immensely last time they tried to 'flex', and whether or not they admit it, I'm sure that a great deal of the decision to drop the issue was due to this communities reaction. I believe that if we put pressure on Rubiks, they may chose a more respectable way of protecting their business.

 

[Cubenovice]

The one pdf stated that eastsheen didn't infringe because of the purple side. They can just ship with no stickers.

No, Eastsheen Intelligence cube was not subjet to being blocked from entering the US market because it was a 4x4x4.
16 colored blocks vs 9 colored blocks on the trademarked item.

The Magic cube was blocked because it was 3x3 with some colors matching the trademark. The cubes brought up in the document even had three different colorschemes but the deciding factor seems to be "some" colors being the same.

 

[The Bloody Talon]

I believe that if we put pressure on Rubiks, they may chose a more respectable way of protecting their business.

i think the majority of rubik's costumers are not speedcubers.

 

[EeeeeWarne]

The RUBIK'S CUBE® in its three dimensional form and any graphic or photographic representation of it, in any configuration, coloured or uncoloured, whether it carries the RUBIK'S CUBE® name or logo, is protected by intellectual property laws throughout the world.

This is from the Rubik's website. Is this inaccurate? I thought that having a cube with purple stickers and a DaYan logo would be fine, but it seems the whole concept of a 3x3 is trademarked...according to the website, here: http://www.rubiks.com/company/image_rights.php

Also, I don't understand how a boycott of Rubiks' products would work. No speedcuber buys from them anyway...

 

[Godmil]

This is from the Rubik's website. Is this inaccurate?

That's what they claim. But if it would hold up in court is another matter... However, Seven Towns has a lot more money for lawyers than any other cubing company, so I doubt anyone would want to test them.

 

[Coltee]

Anyone has a picture of the purple stickers? I like purple but i'm afraid it's gonna be very dark and hard to recognize.

 

[MichaelErskine]

Also, I don't understand how a boycott of Rubiks' products would work. No speedcuber buys from them anyway...

Many here have plenty of Rubik's products in their collections. This whole thing will blow over and not affect individuals buying their DIYs in kit form from China. Nothing to see here. Move along...

 

[cmhardw]

I have a thought experiment. I don't understand all of the applicable laws and business market strategies, which is why I bring it up here.

Someone already mentioned this in this thread (apologies for being in too much of a rush to find the quote, but I do give credit to this thread for this idea):

What if Seventowns bought out DaYan and made them an official part of their company? Sort of a "Speedcube" division?

 

[Godmil]

Interesting idea... Bao would loose control of his company... but would probably get a ton of money for it, and Seven Towns distribution network would see Dayan cubes in a ton of stores.
Seven Towns would get a ton of new product to sell, including an official 'world record speedcube'. Only thing is I think they'd concentrate on the fewest number of products... like maybe just the Zhanchi and not want to replace it with a new model in 6months time.

 

[ThomasJE]

When I started solving the Rubik's Cube, I had never heard of Dayan or any other cube companies. It was only when I seriously got into it that I learned about these companies. Rubik aims their products to the general public, and Dayan aim their products to serious speedcubers. Last time I checked, most of the general public weren't serious speedcubers. This WILL ruin speedcubing; and the only happy person will be Feliks - his record would stand forever .

Oh, and when someone starts a petition, let me know.

 

[andyfreeman]

When I started solving the Rubik's Cube, I had never heard of Dayan or any other cube companies. It was only when I seriously got into it that I learned about these companies.

I know what you mean. I started with a Rubiks. I was happy with my 2 mins solve time. Then I discovered Justin Bieber could do one in 1.30 odd. That was it, I had to get faster and I was hooked on it. In looking for ways of becoming faster I stumbled on this site, and was like, "what, there are OTHER cubes???".

Oh what it was like to be a naive non-cuber.

 

[Schmidt]

.... and the only happy person will be Feliks - his record would stand forever .

I would be happy too, as I could say "I own the best speed cube ever to be made!"

I was happy with my 2 mins solve time. Then I discovered Justin Bieber could do one in 1.30 odd.

For me, it was a 55s solve by Will Smith.

 

[Windsor]

I honestly think that it would be easiest to swap black for yellow, then use slightly lighter blue stickers. This would make it so that instead of a blue-purple red-orange white-yellow orientation, it would be white-black, red-orange, green-blue(slightly lighter). This way with the black and slightly lighter blue stickers it wouldn't contest as much as with putting purple next to blue. Well that's my idea anyway

 

[Chrisandstuff]

I think a good color scheme would be to change white to black and change blue to purple. Then you have Black-Yellow Green-Purple Red-Orange this changes 2 colors which could avoid the trademark. Also If to change the scheme just a bit more make the green lighter then half of the colors are different then the Rubik's brand cubes and it still keeps the same color scheme (more or less).

 

[Godmil]

For me, it was a 55s solve by Will Smith.

That video actually has him only do the last layer.

And guys, the trademark says it's for all colour combinations or even blank cubes. A few colour swaps won't stop Seven Towns if they really want to push it.

 

[Ickathu]

And guys, the trademark says it's for all colour combinations or even blank cubes. A few colour swaps won't stop Seven Towns if they really want to push it.

Theoretically, Seven Towns could sue someone for selling 27 equally sized blocks all stacked up to form a cube, correct? If you place these blocks a little closer together, from the outside it appears as though you have a blank, white, Rubik's Cube.

 

[cubernya]

SevenTowns does not have a patent/copyright on the cube itself, which seems to be what you are talking about.

 

[Ickathu]

SevenTowns does not have a patent/copyright on the cube itself, which seems to be what you are talking about.

Seven Towns Ltd owns all the international rights in the RUBIK trademarks and in the overall image of the RUBIK'S CUBE®

Image Rights
If I put stickers on the block of 27 cubes (Resulting in something like this:

Spoiler

)
and hand show it to a random person on the street, they will, 99 times out of 100, say it is a Rubik's Cube.