> Now that everyone has had their say

Wait, wait.  I didn't say anything yet!

I have mixed feelings about the situation.

On the one hand: Did these various companies try to capitalize on "The Fluk=
e Look" by building meters with similar color schemes?   I think probably "=
yes."

On the other hand: Should you be able to trademark something as vague as "d=
arkish face with yellowish sides" ?  I think probably "No."

On the gripping hand, pictures of the sparkfun meter look pretty damn close=
 to pictures of a fluke 17b meter, and despite claims of "it's actually sor=
t of orange", the existing pictures all look plenty yellow to me.

And for sure if you bring in a shipment of 2000 meters, you're more likely =
to attract the attention of customs that if you buy just one or a couple=85

(we DO all realize that these cheap electronics gadgets that we get direct =
from China are essentially smuggled goods, right?   They bypass customs, th=
ey bypass safety testing, they bypass FCC testing, and who knows what else=
=85  That might be morally justifiable on an individual basis, but if retai=
lers start importing (say) cheap USB power supplies by the thousands that d=
on't meet their specs and are designed "dangerously", and they never go thr=
ough testing or inspections, that IS the sort thing that Customs is suppose=
d to stop.  Right?)

BillW


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