Compass has discontinued selling its Compass CNC V1 Kit to amicably resolve a dispute with Shaper Tools regarding allegations of patent infringement.
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I am so sorry your company had to go through this. This was such a promising device, lead by a very intelligent person. I can only assume this was a brutal decision, or there was no other options.
I hope we still see you around here still, or you have something very cool for you on the horizon.
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What a shame.
For some companies it’s easier to litigate (or legislate) than innovate unfortunately.
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This really makes me mad as well. It was a whole different technology. Yes, it did have the same goal in the end but the ways were completely different.
Too bad that the legal system is so incredibly stupid. Would it make a difference if the whole thing was based in the EU? Could they sue you that easily here as well? I know some people who live here…
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It looks like they have secured several international patents. I have no idea what that looks like anywhere but here though and, that is still extremely complicated.
Since I‘ve had three run-ins with German courts (and won all three instances), I am pretty sure that you are only paying here after the whole thing is over, so it would not be possible for a company to bury me under fees if I was in the right. I also have an insurance. 
So, Cam, hop into a plane, become a German citizen and sue their asses.
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Optical mouse sensors are cameras, while the compass uses them VERY differently, it is using cameras to correct the movement of a handheld router.
I’m not agreeing with shaper or accusing Cam, but shaper might very well have the letter of the law on their side.
I hate this overly broad patent bullshit with a passion -.-
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oh man i’m so sorry … would it be possible to keep the project running as a pure open source project?
Didn’t realize Shaper sold out to German owned private corp…
How good is that insurance policy?
Ugh, Sawstop is another terrible company when it comes to patents.
same company
Right, that’s why I said that.
If I remember the story right, even before they sold out, they would protect their IP pretty harshly…
But I’m not sure I blame them…
I think they originally tried to work with all the companies on licensing deals to make it a standard and none of them would. Once it was successful, they started trying to copy it.
I used to the think the Shaper Origin was too expensive.
Now that I know it’s owned by the Festool guys, I’m surprised it’s so cheap 
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Fair enough. But…
Personally find it especially distasteful if a company were to make a $$$ Shafter Overhead device, crushes an open source project, while also pitching add-ons (to make up for inherent limitations) that resemble existing conventional open source CNC designs. Especially if their size limited strap-on is 2x cost of a LR4. I feel bad for their Customers, this grates me on many levels as you can tell.
I’m not sure what this has to do with my statement about SawStop…