Question for the DIY gang...

[R00K]

If a cottage vendor doesn't offer customization - is there any reason why someone shouldn't clone an item of the vendors with the needed mods?

[angrysparrow]

Not if it's a DIY project. You make what you want, exactly as you want it made. That's simple non-commercial use of an idea.

It would only really be different if it wasn't DIY. Like, a cottage vendor copying a feature from another cottage vendor if it were specific only to them. That's just bad form.

[G.L.P.]

nothing wrong with it at all as long as it's for personal use or your not making a profit off it ... i don't see anything wrong with it

[Cranky Bear]

Not if it's a DIY project. You make what you want, exactly as you want it made. That's simple non-commercial use of an idea.

It would only really be different if it wasn't DIY. Like, a cottage vendor copying a feature from another cottage vendor if it were specific only to them. That's just bad form.

To add to this, if one (non-vendor) were to clone/copy then sell, would be bad form!

But to clone/copy for your personal use no harm/no foul in my eye's!

[SGT Rock]

Share your idea with the vendor, it may end up in the product line.

I'd love to see someone making the Ghost Hammock LOL. I'm sure people with experience at building things in mass quantities with quality could do it better than I could.

[R00K]

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

If this pans out I'll have something exciting to unveil at some point

[Southernfan6885]

Now I'm just curious. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled!

[taylo]

Well for example, If you screw it up and have to send it back to Warbonnet for a professional fix, Brandon's gonna be like.. "Dude why did try to sew an ice chest into the shelf?"

[Chrisman2013]

Now, a slightly different question. What if you made a hammock using a standard method that several other vendors use as well (such as the gathered-end method) but you add a unique feature currently not offered. For example a built-in underquilt or some weight-saving modifications. Would it be bad form to sell this for profit?

[PapaSmurf]

I will also be watching this thread very closely as I am often asked to "tip-toe" around the design features of other vendor's products.

Just my 2 cents -
If it's a community submitted design done by an individual and submitted to the forum, then I don't have much of a problem making one for someone as long as I have permission from the original designer.
Example - I've made a few HUG - half hammock net (originally designed by dejoha) for a few people after speaking with Derek and making sure he didn't mind.

If it's a product designed and offered for sale by one of our vendors, then it oughta be off limits for anyone else to copy and sell.
Example - I've turned down versions of Gargoyle's GarQuilt, Mac's Sock, etc.

If it's a community submitted design that has been picked up and sold by a vendor, the vendor doesn't have any exclusive claim on selling that particular product.
Example - Sgt Rock has clearly offered his Ghost Hammock to the HF community. If I were to, with permission, build a few for folks, it does not automatically mean that someone else couldn't, with permission, offer the same product.