I emailed the company covan's classic who makes dash gauge holders on my idea of a holder for 90-92 camaro that I built for my car. No one makes one for these years for analog gauges at all. I asked them if they were interested in seeing what I did and they said yes they were looking for something and to send them pics. I emailed back and asked to sign a agreement to not steal my idea before sending them pics. They replied that they would do no such thing and will not accept any pics from me. My question was do they like stealing other peoples ideas and make money of them or what? I will never buy anything from that company ever, I will make something before that!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats just wrong I think. Just cause you have a patent doesn't mean much. There are ways to get around it. Any paper is a binding contract.

We use the stock panel to produce tooling for the production of the panel in the concept that we create. We are not interested in using your idea. We do research before we do tooling to see what is already available and/or patented for the automobile that we are interested in creating a concept for. We are no longer interested in seeing any photography of the concept you created and will not be sending any sort of permission granting letter. Thanks for your time.


Covan's Classic, LLC
6020 Parkway North Drive
Bldg. A, Suite 300
Cumming, GA 30040
1-866-882-3525

 

so you contacted a company about making a guage panel for your car, then wanted them to what pay you for your design?

 

I am glad you think that is funny. But at least I am trying to go the next step and maybe some extra cash. Anything is possible if you work at it.

 

If they would have signed your "contract" they could have opened themselves to all sorts of legal issues if they ever came out with a panel for those cars. From a recent real life scenario:

STB (Small Time Business): We patented a system that uses two motors with offset weights as a form of feedback!
Sony: So?
STB: You used such a system in your Dual Shock controller! GIVE US MONEY!

As is, unless you possess the facilities to mass-produce your design, you might as well have given it to Covan. Yea, you'd make jack crap on your design, but (unless you can mass-produce it) you don't stand to make jack-crap on it anyway, so further the hobby and if Covan made a new panel, look at it as more fresh aftermarket parts.