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patent threatening to kill the mosaic art in the philippines

updated fri 28 feb 97

 

Shep Mallory on fri 31 jan 97

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIGHT AN OPPRESSIVE PATENT THREATENING TO KILL THE
MOSAIC ART IN THE PHILIPPINES.
In 1994 the Philippine Patent Authority granted a patent which covers every
use of ceramic tile for mosaic on furniture, accessories and architectural
components. This single company can now stop anyone from making mosaic
designs using ceramic tile on any substrate other than concrete. For
example, if tile is glued to a plywood base on a table top, it infringes on
the patent. (For your reference, the actual patent claim is included at the
end of this message.)

To invalidate this patent we must show that ceramic tile has been used to
make mosaic on non-concrete substrate long before 1994. If you or someone
you know has put a mosaic design on furniture or accessories using ceramic
tile on a non-concrete substrate earlier than 1994, would you please send us
an e-mail which will include the following information.

1. The name and address of the person who made the mosaic,
2. A description of the piece that was made specifying the type tile,
substrate and adhesive used to attach the tile to the substrate.
3. When the piece was made.

Please e-mail this information to the following two addresses as soon as
possible.
address 1: 76131.627@compuserve.com
address 2: mallory@mindspring.com
Any other ideas on how we can show this process was in practice many years
ago, would be greatly appreciated. If you know of someone considered an
expert in this field to whom we could request a statement, we would
appreciate your sending us their name and how to contact them.

PATENT CLAIM AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PATENT:
This is what they say they originated.

"The construction of a ceramic tile installation on surfaces of non-concrete
substrate base material adapted to form part of furniture, accessories,
architectural components and the like, comprising an arrangement of ceramic
tiles securely inlaid and adhesively bonded in place on surfaces of
respective non-concrete substrate base material with use of adhesives and
grout filling up the gaps in between said inlaid tiles."

Anna D'Aste on sat 1 feb 97

Shep Mallory wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIGHT AN OPPRESSIVE PATENT THREATENING TO KILL THE
> MOSAIC ART IN THE PHILIPPINES.
> In 1994 the Philippine Patent Authority granted a patent which covers every
> use of ceramic tile for mosaic on furniture, accessories and architectural
> components. This single company can now stop anyone from making mosaic
> designs using ceramic tile on any substrate other than concrete. For
> example, if tile is glued to a plywood base on a table top, it infringes on
> the patent. (For your reference, the actual patent claim is included at the
> end of this message.)
>
> To invalidate this patent we must show that ceramic tile has been used to
> make mosaic on non-concrete substrate long before 1994. If you or someone
> you know has put a mosaic design on furniture or accessories using ceramic
> tile on a non-concrete substrate earlier than 1994, would you please send us
> an e-mail which will include the following information.
>
> 1. The name and address of the person who made the mosaic,
> 2. A description of the piece that was made specifying the type tile,
> substrate and adhesive used to attach the tile to the substrate.
> 3. When the piece was made.
>
> Please e-mail this information to the following two addresses as soon as
> possible.
> address 1: 76131.627@compuserve.com
> address 2: mallory@mindspring.com
> Any other ideas on how we can show this process was in practice many years
> ago, would be greatly appreciated. If you know of someone considered an
> expert in this field to whom we could request a statement, we would
> appreciate your sending us their name and how to contact them.
>
> PATENT CLAIM AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PATENT:
> This is what they say they originated.
>
> "The construction of a ceramic tile installation on surfaces of non-concrete
> substrate base material adapted to form part of furniture, accessories,
> architectural components and the like, comprising an arrangement of ceramic
> tiles securely inlaid and adhesively bonded in place on surfaces of
> respective non-concrete substrate base material with use of adhesives and
> grout filling up the gaps in between said inlaid tiles."


I just find a patent like that so ludicrous, I don't know anyone
personally who mosaics except myself an I just do it for myself at the
moment but I have this great book called "The Mosaic Book" maybe you know
it already it is by Peggy Vance and Cella Goodrick-Clarke. Anyway it was
first published 1994 so the people who show the examples in the book must
have been doing it longer than that. And alot of what is done in the book
is on wood. I hope that helps ( the isbn # is 1-85029-658-8). Let us
know what happens good luck! Anna

David B. Buck on sun 2 feb 97

Shep Mallory wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIGHT AN OPPRESSIVE PATENT THREATENING TO KILL THE
> MOSAIC ART IN THE PHILIPPINES.
> In 1994 the Philippine Patent Authority granted a patent which covers every
> use of ceramic tile for mosaic on furniture, accessories and architectural
> components. This single company can now stop anyone from making mosaic
> designs using ceramic tile on any substrate other than concrete. For
> example, if tile is glued to a plywood base on a table top, it infringes on
> the patent. (For your reference, the actual patent claim is included at the
> end of this message.)
>
> To invalidate this patent we must show that ceramic tile has been used to
> make mosaic on non-concrete substrate long before 1994. If you or someone
> you know has put a mosaic design on furniture or accessories using ceramic
> tile on a non-concrete substrate earlier than 1994, would you please send us
> an e-mail which will include the following information.
>
> 1. The name and address of the person who made the mosaic,
> 2. A description of the piece that was made specifying the type tile,
> substrate and adhesive used to attach the tile to the substrate.
> 3. When the piece was made.
>
> Please e-mail this information to the following two addresses as soon as
> possible.
> address 1: 76131.627@compuserve.com
> address 2: mallory@mindspring.com
> Any other ideas on how we can show this process was in practice many years
> ago, would be greatly appreciated. If you know of someone considered an
> expert in this field to whom we could request a statement, we would
> appreciate your sending us their name and how to contact them.
>
> PATENT CLAIM AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE PATENT:
> This is what they say they originated.
>
> "The construction of a ceramic tile installation on surfaces of non-concrete
> substrate base material adapted to form part of furniture, accessories,
> architectural components and the like, comprising an arrangement of ceramic
> tiles securely inlaid and adhesively bonded in place on surfaces of
> respective non-concrete substrate base material with use of adhesives and
> grout filling up the gaps in between said inlaid tiles."


About 25 years ago my grandfather, John Gates, made several tea-pot
holders with 1 inch tile glued on a rectangular plywood base. They were
framed with mitered outside corner trim and grouted. A single tile was
placed under each corner to act as a foot. My parents still have one
upstairs in the back room. I hope this helps.

David B. Buck
28 Oakridge Blvd.
Nepean, Ontario, Canada
K2G 2T5

Larry Phillips on sun 2 feb 97

In article <1.5.4.32.19970130181348.006d5210@pop.mindspring.com>,
Shep Mallory writes:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIGHT AN OPPRESSIVE PATENT THREATENING TO KILL THE
> MOSAIC ART IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Ridiculous!

Ceramic tiles have been used on wooden furniture, structural non-concrete
surfaces, and more, for years. Pine sideboards with ceramic tile tops or
backsplashes were common in the 1800's, just to name one example.

--
Socrates said that no man is truly free.
Socrates was never a pilot.

Margaret Arial on mon 3 feb 97

I see tiled furniture often at auction and in antique shops and malls it
often is early 1900's of the Arts and crafts style and both American and
English in origin. M.T. Arial

Susan Stern on tue 4 feb 97

See the book "The Art of Making Mosaics" by Louisa Jenkins and Barbara Mills,
copyright 1957 by the D. Van Nostrand Co. Library of Congress Catalogue Card
No. 57-11592. The third chapter deals with wood bases for mosaics.

Also, "Mosaics" by Doris and Diane Lee Aller, copyright 1959 by Lane Magazine
and Book Company, Menlo Park, CA, Library of Congress Card Catalogue No.
59-14313 has a photo and gives instructions for using a plywood base for
mosaics.

Both books are currently held by the Glen Ellyn Public Library in Glen Ellyn,
IL, USA if you have further questions.

Hope this helps your cause. Amazing that any time at all must go into
fighting such ridiculous claims! Good luck!

Susie