[TowerTalk] Calculations

[Michael Keane K1MK]

At 03:58 AM 9/12/04, WarrenWolff at aol.com wrote:
>And once a fellow gets a set of 90 MPH calculations for $250  or so, why, o'
>why should any future sales of the same calculations cost the  next fellow the
>same $250?  The non-recurring cost should be minimal;  right?

The non-recurring labor is minimal but there are other costs.

A jurisdiction asking for calculations by a PE are likely to want them to 
be "wet sealed."

There are "wet" seals (where the PE's seal is applied to a drawing or a 
calculation), and "dry" seals (where you submit a copy which had a wet 
seal, once).  Obviously, a "dry" seal is cheaper (the price of a 
photocopy), as no liability attaches. The costs to the PE  associated with 
the liability for a wet seal are recurring costs.

The non-recurring cost would also depends on whether the agreement 
accompanying the $250 included a transfer of copyright or a license to 
redistribute and reuse the results.

Otherwise the PE  who did the work as a independent contractor (consultant) 
owns the copyright to the results of his calculations and while whoever 
paid the $250 may have an implied license to use it, can't freely 
redistribute the results.

73,
Mike K1MK

Michael Keane K1MK
k1mk at alum.mit.edu