Tony L
Administrator
Audio Research Corporation still provides a schematic with the owner's manual.
That is good to know. Perhaps we should keep a list of brands that do.
Audio Research Corporation still provides a schematic with the owner's manual.
you never been in DIY? It’s not just about building stuff
That is good to know. Perhaps we should keep a list of brands that do.
As both a repairer and a designer and small scale manufacturer I can see both sides of the argument for the making schematics etc available. If making stuff on a very small scale, say 20 units a year, it doesn't take many people making DIY copies of your kit, either by following the schematic or by the Chinese having made a clone knock off board available, for it to kill off your business... you can I believe even buy Chi-fi rip off's of Les's Avondale boards!
As both a repairer and a designer and small scale manufacturer I can see both sides of the argument for the making schematics etc available. If making stuff on a very small scale, say 20 units a year, it doesn't take many people making DIY copies of your kit, either by following the schematic or by the Chinese having made a clone knock off board available, for it to kill off your business... you can I believe even buy Chi-fi rip off's of Les's Avondale boards!
I can see sense in the veblen goods bit but there are plenty of cheap skates and DIYers out there... I made me an Audio research SP8 by having the schematics in the (someone elses) owners manual about 25 years ago... and yes not many would do the same...
You don't necessarily need such exhaustive information to be savvy, courtesy of the internet we can find out more than ever about others' experiences with the product and conduct of the company to inform our buying behaviours. If you feel so strongly about such things being available you could check whether they are ahead of time and avoid manufacturers who do not provide them, that would 'be savvy.'As you tacitly admit, it can be impossible for the buying customer to tell in advance if they might need to repair something, etc, at the point of initial purchase. Frankly, we might not buy something if we knew when it was going to fail. You can't be 'savvy' when denied relevant information.
I can't see any reason for makers to refuse detailed schematics, etc. And it has already been their *legal responsiblity* under the EU regs to ensure items can be repaired for a number of years after purchase. However they may dodge that in the way I was treated, and then you'd have to take them to court. Which is effectively impossible for most of us when faced with a company based out of the UK of any size.
It's a parallel with the patent/IPR behaviour elsewhere. Big company has the lawyers and the money.
Yes, this is firmly a case of the tail wagging the dog. Like a lot of regulation it is actually the large corporations who lobby for it as a way to protect themselves from smaller competitors by raising the cost and compliance threshold for market entry.I'm also doubtful of the 'health and safety' argument.
Les’s Avondale boards AIUI are basically naim anyway.
Or in my case (and many other's) build a motorbike from many parts. An MOT is sufficient proof of roadworthyness.I don’t agree with this as we are “allowed” to do so many other things. As examples I built both my bicycles from parts. My word that they are ‘roadworthy’ is enough to ride in busy traffic.
Depends on the circuit - protectable via patents (or semiconductor topography rights for ICs)William Z. Johnson's comment about this was "If you make one for yourself I'll shake your hand. If you try to sell them I'll take you to court."
(and yes I know a circuit can't really be protected in court...)
Yes and no, you have legal responsibility beyond just making sure the vehicle passes an MOT...Or in my case (and many other's) build a motorbike from many parts. An MOT is sufficient proof of roadworthyness.