Ping Anser Patent

[Maninblack4612]

From this month's Golf Monthly (actually June's, but that's another story!) John Solheim "It's coming up 50 years since we got the patent..." If they have a patent how is it that virtually every manufacturer produces an almost identical putter? If the shape isn't distinctive enough to patent than what have they patented? I don't understand.

 

[Three]

Great question.

Most Scotty Cameron and Odyssey putters are copies of the original.

 

[ger147]

Maybe all the other manufacturers pay Ping a fee to use the shape?

I have no idea if that's the case or not but is generally how patents works.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Patents are hugely difficult and expensive to protect. It is so easy to make a minor alteration and claim that it is not infringing. I am sure Ping have sued many companies in their time to protect it, some will pay them a fee and others will get away with it and leave Ping feeling very annoyed. Such is the world of patents. Overall though they have done pretty well.

 

[One Planer]

From this month's Golf Monthly (actually June's, but that's another story!) John Solheim "It's coming up 50 years since we got the patent..." If they have a patent how is it that virtually every manufacturer produces an almost identical putter? If the shape isn't distinctive enough to patent than what have they patented? I don't understand.

Patent expired in 1984 opening the design up to other OEM's.