Patent Procedures | A L C R Y S T

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Patent Procedures

Dec 8, 2013 6:52:20 GMT -6 Word Count:

Post by Brady on Dec 8, 2013 6:52:20 GMT -6

Patent System

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[PTab=Rules]

Any idea that is Patented cannot be duplicated without consequence. Any duplicates will be removed from the site. If thought to be an intentional violation, you may face repercussions.
The Patenting System is designed to protect originality, not stunt it. Therefore, you cannot patent an entire, general system, only the specifics of it. Basic ideas are free to be used by any member; you can only patent your own, personal adaption of it. Every patent is judged on a case-by-case basis though there is a very inexact formula we provide in the next tab that you can reference for a rough idea.
If you are unsure whether your idea encroaches on a current Patent or if your Patent qualifies as too general, please message an Administrator for confirmation.
You do not have to have a Patent for any reason. It is an option for those who wish to Safeguard their original ideas.
Ideas that are not Patented are still protected by Alcrystan law but these can be copied with the creator's consent and, if you are found to be duplicating an unprotected idea without permission, it will not result in immediate removal. Instead, staff will inquire into both sides and make a decision they feel is fair and fitting. The only way to guarantee your idea cannot be stolen in any situation is to Patent it.
Patents apply only to this site. We cannot enforce them further than our personal domain. If someone steals your idea and uses it off-site, you will need to take your own (possibly legal) action.
You can have more than one Patent at a time and more than one protecting the same idea. Staff will moderate your amount, however, and may limit you if they feel the growth and creativity of other members are being stifled.
Applying multiple Patents to one idea and causing heavy overlapping may constitute an unfair Patent and cause rejection.
You may only Patent specifics you were the first to bring onto the site. While the general idea, such as a Taxation System, can have existed before your adaption, your specific(s) must be your own contribution to the site.
Even if you were the first to bring a specific idea to Alcryst, if another member copies your idea before you apply for a Patent you will be denied. It is highly suggested that you Patent your ideas immediately after implementing them to ensure this block does not occur.
Absolutely anything and everything on Alcryst can be Patented apart from character details, such as appearance, history, personality, plots, wanted ads, etc. Patents can include but are not limited to: Herds, Guilds, Contributions, Establishments, Freelancers, Contests, and Galleries.
There is a fee of 50 Coins/Spirits for requesting a Patent if it is approved.
Inactive members forfeit their right to protection; to regulate this, you must Renew your Patent once a month. If you fail to Renew it one month, you must wait until at least the next consecutive month to re-apply for the same Patent.
Renewal has a small fee of 10 Coins/Spirits per Patent.
You may Renew at any point during the month.
Feel free to remove your Patent by posting in this board with the request. You can always re-apply for the same Patent if you change your mind.
You can modify your Patents with the appropriate form. Administrative approval is still required. A fee of 10 Coins/Spirits will be charged to discourage frequent changes.
Only Administrators and Supervisors can approve pending Patents because they are trusted to judge sufficiently and without bias.
Fill out the form given in the third tab and make your own thread. Apply the label "Pending." An Administrator or Supervisor will post either an immediate approval or explain why your current request cannot be approved. If they do not approve it, you are free to adapt your Patent Request to their reasoning, withdraw your request, or further negotiate. Once accepted, they will apply the "Approved" label and add your Patent to the record.
All Patents receive a stamp with the number adjusted to their particular Patent. It is not mandatory for them to be visible on Patented threads/boards but it is a good idea to ward off theft and alert others through their use.

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[PTab=Formula]

Please note this Formula is very imprecise. Exceptions may apply. If your Patent does not fit the formula, you can still inquire whether it would be approved or not. This Formula illustrates both our approval process and what is considered a violation of a Patent.

Patenting 1 Idea

First determine the idea breakdown from general to specific.
Example: Guilds > Entry > Qualifications > Your Patent Request
Then determine what your Patent is. We will call this M.
Example: M = only female humans can enter the Guild.
No member can use M identically. They will have to make their own variation of it, such as M1.
Example: No member can allow only female humans into their Guild (M). They could, however, allow only male humans (M1) or any nonidentical variation thereof.

Patenting 2 Ideas

First determine your idea breakdown from general to specific.
Example: Shops > Memberships > Requirements > Your Patent Request
Then determine what your two coinciding Patents are. We will call these X and Y.
Example: X = buy at least 10 items from my shop during the month to qualify. Y = buy at least 1 item that costs more than 100 coins.
No member can use X and Y together now. Members can still use a variation of X with another idea, such as Z.
Example: No member can couple a minimum item count per month (X) and a minimum item price together (Y) in their Membership Requirements. They could, however, couple a minimum item count per month (X) with a different idea, such as a monthly fee (Z), so long as their minimum item count per month is not identical to your Patent (10 items).

Patenting 3+ Ideas

First determine your idea breakdown from general to specific.
Example: Herds > Taxation System > Punishments > Your Patent Request
Then determine what your three or more coinciding Patents are. We will call these A and B and C.
Example: A = if you do not pay the full amount, you will be shunned for 10 days. B = if you do not pay on time, you will pay double next month. C = if you do not pay at all, you will be exiled from the herd.
No member can use A, B, and C together now, though they can still use A and B, B and C, or A and C together.
Example: No member can have a taxation system where not paying the full amount shuns you (A), not paying on time causes double the tax (B), and not paying at all causes exile (C). They could shun you for not paying at all, however. They could also combine two and thus not paying the full amount does shun you (A) and not paying on time causes an increased tax (B) but they cannot be identical to your Patent (shun for 10 days, 2x the tax).

Patenting 2 Cross Generals

First determine your two idea breakdowns from general to specific.
Example: Contribution > Creature > Appearance > Your Patent Request and Contribution > Creature > Lifespan > Your Patent Request
Then determine what your two separate Patents are. We will call these Q (Appearance) and R (Lifespan).
Example: Q = their coat color changes color depending on the time of day, pink at dawn, red at noon, and black at nightfall. R = they live for 10 years and are considered a kid 1-3, teenager 3-5, adult 5-7, and senior 7-10.
No member can use Q and R together, though they can couple Q or R with another idea (S), which can be of the same General Category (Appearance/Lifespan) or of a different one.
Example: No member can have a Creature Contribution that changes color during the day (Q) and lives for 10 years (R). They could, however, couple a Creature Contribution that lives 10 years (R) and is solid blue (S) so long as they are not identical to your Patent (1-3 kid, 3-5 teenager, 5-7 adult, 7-10 senior).

Patenting 3+ Cross Generals

First determine your three or more separate idea breakdowns from general to specific.
Example: Freelancers > Compensation > Discounts > Your Patent Request and Freelancers > Compensation > Requirements > Your Patent Request and Freelancers > Compensation > Packages > Your Patent Request
Then determine what your three or more separate Patents are. We will call these D (Discounts) and E (Requirements) and F (Packages).
Example: D = if you use only my service the entire month you will receive 10% off the entire following month. E = you must be at least age 40 to use my services. F = I offer 3 packages that increase in amount of separate services rendered and price.
No member can use D, E, and F together now, though they can still use D and E, E and F, or D and F together.
Example: No member can offer a discount for using only their service for a certain period (D) and require you to be a certain age to use their service (E) and offer packages that increase in amount of separate services rendered and price (F). They could offer a discount for being a certain age, however. They could also combine two and thus you do receive a discount for using only their services for a certain period (D) and you do have to be a certain age to use their service (E) but they cannot be identical to your Patent (1 month, 40 years old).

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New Patent

Breakdown: The general to specific breakdown of your Patent. This is not what is being Patented. For example: Guilds > Taxation System > Requirements. Note that you need a minimum of 3 breakdowns, as this helps us make sure the Patent is not too general
Formula: 1 Patent, 2 Patent, 3+ Patent, 2 Cross Generals, or 3+ Cross Generals as explained in the Formula tab
Specific: The actual, exact idea(s) you are Patenting. For example: If you do not pay the Tax on time, you will owe 100% more for 3 months following your violation
Creation: The thread where you first created this idea; we will review the thread and check dates to verify you were the first to bring this exact idea to Alcryst and that no one has already copied your idea

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Modifying Patent

Number: Your Patent's assigned Number that you are modifying
Adaption: Fully explain what you wish to change about your Patent

[ul][li] Number:

[/li][li] Adaption:

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Renewing Patent

Month: The month you are Renewing your Patent for
Number: Your Patent's assigned Number that you are Renewing

[ul][li] Month:

[/li][li] Number:

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[PTab=Records]

Formula Type

Breakdown(s)
Specifics Patented

Patent Creation Date
Patent Last Renewed Date: Date Needs to be Renewed Next
Patent Holder (@ Roleplayer, if an IC system then also @ Character Name)
Patent Number (#.# - first # is user ID for OOC Account and second is number of Patent that's been accepted, 1 for 1st one ever)

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