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Outsource Production of Ginkgo Studio's Greenwall to Yourself
It would be neat if future forecasters' predictions come true and one day we all have RP machines on our desks, like regular printers, and product designers could then sell us designs. Not products, but actual designs we'd download to the RP machine, which would spit out the product in question.
A similar idea has existed for decades with woodworkers who sold plans via snail-mail. This set-up relied on the recipient to use their know-how, tool collection and trips to the lumber yard via pickup truck to knock up a trestle table, spice rack or platform bed.
As of today we've got design teams like Rotterdam-based Ginkgo Studio, who've addressed the popularity of their GreenWall Vertical Garden--a sort of mini-garden in a picture frame--not by selling the product, but by putting the plans up on Etsy. Now we urbanites aspiring to have green thumbs but lacking backyards can buy PDF plans, snag a ten-inch Ikea picture frame and essentially outsource the production of Ginkgo Studio's design to ourselves.
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Of course, I figured that when I put the PDF up, people would buy it and eventually there would be a chance that I would not sell the frames anymore.
However, I thought it would be an interesting experiment to see how this could work. I have a fulltime job, next to my Etsy shop where I sell my lampshades and GreenWall frames, so I'm not financially dependent on my sales. Actually, sometimes it's all a little too much to keep up with...
For me, it is a huge advantage that I do not have to spend one-and-a-half to two hours, making the frames, printing instructions, packaging, do all the shopping for supplies and worry about international shipping. Also, I think the international shipping costs from The Netherlands are way too high in comparison to the price of the product. Not much I can do about that.
I know that there are a lot of people out there who would like to make the frames themselves and buying the PDF allows you to make as many as you want. Of course, there is a chance that it will spread across the internet (regardless my 'lovingly plastered logo' ;) ). Well, then I guess that might be the end of it... or not... maybe there still are people out there who respect the time I put in it?
Compare it to Moby, I just downloaded their new MP3's for free! I'm not an marketing expert, but just curious to see where it goes!
People who understand that pursuing intellectual property protection is a shell game at best. You can't file enough patent applications fast enough to stop the pirates and DIYers so don't waste your time, money and resources trying. Use your resources wisely to promote your brand.
Gingko figured out that their product was something anybody could make at home themselves and rather than try to "protect" that, they decided to make it even easier by putting the plans (lovingly plastered with their logo and url all over them) somewhere where their audience can easily find them. Now, when people decide to do this themselves (which they really should because it's such a simple thing) they'll be associating the idea with Gingko.
Now those thousands of potential customers are only a click in a web browser away from a website full of other, different products that aren't so easy to make at home. It's smart marketing rather than dumb patenting that makes a successful company in today's market.
IP law was not created to ensure that creative people could make a living. That was merely a by-product of it's real goals (US Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8). Those who understand IP know best when to use and not use it.