| ILLEGAL COPYING OF
BOAT PLANS |
Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that there are several
boats being built illegally to our designs , using photocopied plans. This
is a common and never ending problem in the boat design business, and is
something that no boat designer can afford to ignore. For this reason this
office has now assumed a policy that builders of illegal boats will be
persued to the best of our legal ability.
Boat plans are classed as the intellectual property of the designer,
and are covered by both national and international copyright laws. The
building of a boat to an illegal copy, without paying the designer his
proper due, is tantemount to theft. Designers spend many long hours producing
safe and seaworthy vessels for builders, and to illegally copy those plans
is to rob the designer of rights and income to which he is clearly entitled.
Specifically, we are aware of boats being built illegally in South Africa,
to our Coral Sea 35 design, by an individual who claims to have authority
from us to build 10 boats. Be warned that this person is working from partial
copied plans, and has already cost at least one innocent victim considerable
expense and heartache. Authorities from this office are always issued
in writing.
We are also aware of at least one Waller 9.4 being built in Turkey,
without having purchased plans.
Should you come in contact with any such person, we would appreciate
your contacting us. This would be the right thing to do, and we could save
you a great deal of money. All plans issued from this office are
now numbered, and records of all plan purchases are maintained. We can
help you identify if the boat you are being offered is legal or otherwise.
Any person who purchased plans from this office prior to July 2004 may
contact this office, and we will advise their plan number.
Sincerely.
Mike Waller.
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