Rule 87

If they have corrected the assymetry of the laser hull is it still a laser?

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd Originally posted by Peaky Why should only the hull be subject to IPR?  Why not the sail too?  Or the rudder?  It's a complicated area - and I'm not a lawyer but I necessarily have some professional interest in intellectual property law. It is, in general, legal to produce "spare parts" despite the original object is subject to copyright. See http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-types/pro-design/d-policy/d-policy -spareparts.htm Sails would certainly be an example of a "spare part". The law in this area was designed to prevent a supplier abusing a monopoly position in after-sales spares supply. It's common to sell a base product at or near cost but sell spares at a high price e.g. inkjet printer cartridges, razor blades, car spares and maybe even SMOD sails.

Someone told me at the dinghy show that they were making fake/replica Laser hulls now ... is that true? The hull would have to be the only part that could not be considered a spare part in the above analysis ....

Edited by Guest#260

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by Peaky it would be better for someone to take the lead and create a LAZOR class, based very heavily on the Laser, but allowing freedom of manufacturer. You can't actually replicate the Laser hull shape, there's intellectual property restrictions about that, but there have been any number of near Laser classes introduced in the past. They've all flopped dismally.

Why should only the hull be subject to IPR?  Why not the sail too?  Or the rudder?  And isn't the Alto the same shape as a 505, but with chines added?

Originally posted by Peaky it would be better for someone to take the lead and create a LAZOR class, based very heavily on the Laser, but allowing freedom of manufacturer.

You can't actually replicate the Laser hull shape, there's intellectual property restrictions about that, but there have been any number of near Laser classes introduced in the past. They've all flopped dismally.

Originally posted by Peaky So taking things to an extreme, what would happen if the Solo class, say, decided that port had right of way?

They can't. RRS 86.1 says which rules can be changed and by whom. Parts 1, 2 and 7 can't be changed by anyone.

Going back to the RS touching a mark question, AFAIK that's amended by RS standard SIs http://www.rs-association.com/docs/RS_SI_2009.doc 13.2 which amends RRS 31. SIs can change 31 but class rules can't. So the answer to the original question is no, an RS can't bump a mark in a club race even if it's an RS class race unless the club SIs are changed to allow it.

Edited by Stefan Lloyd