<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2716.2200" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Well, our patent system is really in trouble.  Two of the criteria to obtain a patent are that the idea has to be non-obvious, and not done before (prior art).  I'm personally not sure a back cover for a Dampp-Chaser qualifies on either score.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>dave<BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********<BR><BR>On 7/16/02 at 4:30 PM Clyde Hollinger wrote:</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid">Well, we shouldn't be so flippant about that.  The law is the law.  Getting a patent is expensive, so I'm told, not to mention all the R & D Dampp-Chaser puts into developing and improving their products. <P>Regards, Clyde Hollinger, RPT <P>David Ilvedson wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE="CITE">Yeah, right... <FONT face=Arial><FONT size=-1>>As a gentle reminder, I do need to say that Dampp-Chaser Corporation has a US patent for vertical backside covers and grand >undercovers used in conjunction with pianos having climate control systems.  Thanks.</FONT></FONT> <FONT face=Arial><FONT size=-1>>Roger Wheelock, VP</FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=-1>>Dampp-Chaser Corp.</FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2 Arial></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML> <PRE> _____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________</PRE>