New RED/Panavision 8k

[Brad Smith]

http://www.theasc.com/site/news/panavision-dxl-8k-camera-unveiled-at-asc-clubhouse/

 

One interesting/concerning thing mentioned is the Steadicam dovetail/ 19mm bridge base is Patented!

 

It would be a great system for us if more cameras could quickly and easily swap between studio mode and Steadi.... But apparently that would now violate a patent!

[Brandon Thompson]

The patent is interesting since it is defined as:

 

The patent laws usually require that, for an invention to be patentable, it must be:

• Patentable subject matter, i.e., a kind of subject-matter eligible for patent protection.
• Novel (i.e. at least some aspect of it must be new)
• Non-obvious (in United States patent law) or involve an inventive step (in European patent law)

How is a steadicam plate Non-obvious? Maybe because they have incorporated it into the studio bridge plate??

[Jess Haas SOC]

The only thing novel would be that it's a Steadicam dovetail. Arri had a split bridegeplate for the 416 that achieved a similar purpose. Wooden Camera also has their quick base. Seems like the concept itself shouldn't be patentable but it's often up to someone willing to spend the legal fees to show such a thing because the patent office basically rubber stamps everything.

[Jess Haas SOC]

It could simply be their mechanism or something that is patented. If anyone has the patent number would love to look at their patent application.