Posted by AUX on 23, 2001 at 9:31 AM:
In Reply to: Answer... posted by Ohso on 22, 2001 at 7:01 PM:
I agree there's no problem with copying the dimensions of the Atari arcade cab in this case, but I wanted to point out that Ferrari did sue the maker of kit cars that used Corvette engines and chassis under a fake Ferrari Daytona body (they were used in the show Miami Vice). Ferrari claimed trademark infringement (rather than a patent or copyright violation). The kit car car company didn't try to advertise the cars as real Ferraris but Ferrari said the distinctive bodystyle was their trademark.
Atari probably didn't patent the design of the arcade cabinet, but its possible they might claim the cabinet design was their trademark. That would probably include however, the graphics and logo of the original cabinet. Brian's cabinet is not painted the same as the WAR cabinet, so no problem there. And yes, you'd probably have to be selling similar-looking cabinets before you had to worry about anything. Certainly just putting up the dimensions of the cabinet is no problem at all.