More Trenchless Thoughts - Part IV

One important note to those seeking to install or remediate utility product pipe is that all construction professionals should, where it's applicable, PAY the appropriate licensing fees to those people who have developed and patented a technology. It's the same thing as computer software. Somebody's BRAIN was used to develop a method, someone who is using the method should pay for using the method. If you install Windows XP on a computer, You pay a licensing fee to Microsoft when you buy the software.

The same thinking applies to trenchless methods. Until the pipe bursting patent licensed by British Gas expired last year, people were paying a charge, measured per foot and per inch of upgrade, to British Gas through the licensing authority, Advantica, Inc. The same thing is done for other methods, such as the Tenbusch Insertion Method, and the ArrowBore method. Copying the thinking behind a method can only get you into trouble. Substantial money has normally been spent in the development of such methods, it is only right for the patent holder or their licensing agency to be compensated for the privilege of using the method. Otherwise, the money spent in the development of the method is never regained.

Intellectual property rights. Respect them.

Until next time,

Trenchless Geologist