4 ms·

While I like this idea, it still runs into the same issue as patents with respect to enforcement. It would be very difficult to get all the copycats to actuall

While I like this idea, it still runs into the same issue as patents with respect to enforcement. It would be very difficult to get all the copycats to actually fork over the 1-3% of sales on their knockoff product.

mortenjorck 10y ago
The solution to that seems easy: Preferred placement. Alibaba can simply promote the vendors who have signed on to the design royalties system, possibly penalizing those who have not. The 1-3% IP overhead then becomes effectively a marketing overhead.
- lotyrin 10y ago
  Why pay the idea guy then? Just have traditional promoted listings and seller/market pocket the money regardless of the origin or design of the items.
  - mortenjorck 10y ago
    I don't really see the point of this comment: Above is a proposal to use a tool to accomplish a goal. It presumes the goal is desired by the actor. If it is not, they are free to use the tool for other purposes.
    - lotyrin 10y ago
      Because there are multiple actors required to make the proposal work as stated. How are all the actor's purposes aligned by the proposal such that you get a positive sum for all of the required parties?
sharemywin 10y ago
They already pay 3% to aliexpress marketplace anyway, just jack the price up 1-3% and if you submitted the design before the listing was created part of the money goes to you.. basically it would be a private patent system for the largest world wide marketplace
- mdorazio 10y ago
  That's not what I meant. How do you associate the original idea with the actual product being sold on Alibaba/express? Vendors could just create alternate listings with a slightly different title for what is actually the same product and avoid paying the 1-3%. Obviously they might miss out on some brand recognition, but on razor thin margins it would probably be worth it. Enforcement would require someone actively looking at the listings, or depend on the "idea holder" filing complaints against violators.

mortenjorck 10y ago

The solution to that seems easy: Preferred placement. Alibaba can simply promote the vendors who have signed on to the design royalties system, possibly penalizing those who have not. The 1-3% IP overhead then becomes effectively a marketing overhead.

lotyrin 10y ago
Why pay the idea guy then? Just have traditional promoted listings and seller/market pocket the money regardless of the origin or design of the items.
- mortenjorck 10y ago
  I don't really see the point of this comment: Above is a proposal to use a tool to accomplish a goal. It presumes the goal is desired by the actor. If it is not, they are free to use the tool for other purposes.
  - lotyrin 10y ago
    Because there are multiple actors required to make the proposal work as stated. How are all the actor's purposes aligned by the proposal such that you get a positive sum for all of the required parties?

sharemywin 10y ago

They already pay 3% to aliexpress marketplace anyway, just jack the price up 1-3% and if you submitted the design before the listing was created part of the money goes to you.. basically it would be a private patent system for the largest world wide marketplace

mdorazio 10y ago
That's not what I meant. How do you associate the original idea with the actual product being sold on Alibaba/express? Vendors could just create alternate listings with a slightly different title for what is actually the same product and avoid paying the 1-3%. Obviously they might miss out on some brand recognition, but on razor thin margins it would probably be worth it. Enforcement would require someone actively looking at the listings, or depend on the "idea holder" filing complaints against violators.