Homage, Rippoff, Improvement or Unrelated?

[Tofty]

Hi everyone,
Recently I came across a thread on EDCForums, where someone had pointed out the similarities between the Melon Tools OSOS prybar and my first prybar design, I'd done a few years ago. After looking into it I've come to my own conclusions, but I was wondering if other people also see any similarities and if so; what they think it means?

Melon Tools OSOS:



https://www.melontools.com/en_US/p/Pocket-Tool-OSOS-INOX-Metric/76


Tofty Prybar:



https://www.shapeways.com/product/34HL9WUMJ

Any and all comments welcome.

[ducttapetech]

There are a couple things that look similar, but so do a ton of other OPTs. A pry tool can be redesigned so many times. Yours is by no means a ripoff and looks way better. Yours also allows the bit to be used inline with the tool. Far more superior than the melon.
Just my 2 cents.

Nate

[Gareth]

While I do see the similarities between the two, I don't think you could say it's a direct ripoff.  I think you'd even have a hard time being certain that they'd even seen yours before designing theirs.

[sawman]

My impression is: not a ripoff.

[Steinar]

Given how these things work, I think I would assume rip-off and look for "proof" that it isn't... :\

[Kampfer]

Hard to proof it is a ripoff. Inspired, maybe.

[sawman]

Given how these things work, I think I would assume rip-off and look for "proof" that it isn't... :\

When I look at the two tools I see too many differences to accuse one of copying the other.

[Aloha]

I have to agree with much of what has been said regarding similarities being more about the design nature of these little tools rather than a blatant ripoff, at least in this case.

Sawman pretty much summed it up for me

When I look at the two tools I see too many differences to accuse one of copying the other.

[microbe]

Both are made of steel, have a slight bent shape, a pry head and a cap lifter, internal tool holes, a driver, and are wrapped with rubber rings. The differences; one has a lanyard attachment, and the logos are not the same. I think many pry bars use various of the features listed above. To say that the bent shape makes it a ripoff, is a bit far fetched.
If I had to make a choice between the two, I like yours most 

[enki_ck]

No coincidence about it. If it only happened this time I'd maybe consider it a coincidence but there have been others. They have an account here and a second account by a member who occasionally posts in this board with their tools and I've told them before about copying other peoples designs. It seems to me they search the web for cool designs and then alter them a bit to pass as new ones.

http://forum.multitool.or....msg975514.html#msg975514

So for me, it's a rip off, or at least VERY "inspired" by the design of Torty's prybar.  

[microbe]

No coincidence about it. If it only happened this time I'd maybe consider it a coincidence but there have been others. They have an account here and a second account by a member who occasionally posts in this board with their tools and I've told them before about copying other peoples designs. It seems to me they search the web for cool designs and then alter them a bit to pass as new ones.

http://forum.multitool.or....msg975514.html#msg975514

So for me, it's a rip off, or at least VERY "inspired" by the design of Torty's prybar.

Well that puts the whole thing in a new perspective. It seems the melon is a lemon.

[JAfromMn]

It's similar.

I would guess they seen your design changed it up a bit and made a new tool.

[AimlessWanderer]

While I do see the similarities between the two, I don't think you could say it's a direct ripoff.  I think you'd even have a hard time being certain that they'd even seen yours before designing theirs.

This was my thought too

No coincidence about it. If it only happened this time I'd maybe consider it a coincidence but there have been others. They have an account here and a second account by a member who occasionally posts in this board with their tools and I've told them before about copying other peoples designs. It seems to me they search the web for cool designs and then alter them a bit to pass as new ones.

http://forum.multitool.or....msg975514.html#msg975514

So for me, it's a rip off, or at least VERY "inspired" by the design of Torty's prybar.  

Whilst there may well be such issues with that producer, I can't see Tofty's tool being the "target" in this particular instance. Inspiration maybe, but not the "slightly modified ripoff" tactic as has been seen before by OMPT makers. For me there are sufficient differences to blur the lines, and say this is no more a ripoff than any other OPMT producer is ripping off or being inspired by Atwood for example .... just like when other companies started producing butterfly opening pliers tools

[Tofty]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I personally agree with the majority, that it is either just inspired by my prybar or that it's just a coincidence and they went through the same logical design steps I did.

However, even If it was a bit of a copy, I'm glad that someone has put some thought into it and tried to make a quality tool, using decent 420 blade steel, rather than the straight knockoffs we see all too often.

The guitar tool is a much closer match, but even there they have made some genuinely useful design additions.

[ironraven]

Perhaps Tofty inspired, but if tool design is anything like bag design, there is only so many ways a judge can skin a cat.

[RT1969]

Given how these things work, I think I would assume rip-off and look for "proof" that it isn't... :\

When I look at the two tools I see too many differences to accuse one of copying the other.

I just wanted to state that this sums up my view on it as well.

The guitar tool is a much closer match, but even there they have made some genuinely useful design additions.

I would give the inventor of the bass tool a fighting chance in a juridical battle, but nearly every tool has a different layout on the 2 tools discussed here. And there are some tools (the cutouts) that don't have a counterpart on the other. I don't see a design infringement.