Trapezoid Neck Profile™ (TNP™) (US D630,676), and Intersecting Plane Neck Profile™ (IPNP™) (US D635,182) are patented technologies. Licensing is required for use.
Licensing these technologies will add distinctive visual appeal to your instruments. The shapes are beautiful, and surprising.
Most importantly, ergonomic advantages inherent in the designs can greatly reduce stress on the elbow, wrist, and hand. RSI injuries can be prevented, or healed. Comfort of play for the musician is increased, leading to improved performance.
Q: Who can license these neck profile technologies?
A: Anyone, including luthiers, mass manufacture corporations, or individuals self-building.
Q: How much does licensing cost?
A: Trapezoid Neck Profile™ and Intersecting Plane Neck Profile™ are $55 (US) per neck. License rates for high volume production can be negotiated.
Q: How does licensing work?
A: Contact Rick Toone to discuss your profile needs. Payment is simple, through Paypal.
Your invoice payment receipt will include a unique serial number, specific to your neck. That serial number, and the patent number, must be included when publishing information about your neck, transporting, or selling your neck (or instrument).
Highly recommended you physically engrave or write the information on your actual instrument neck. This protects you from legal issues associated with patent infringement.
When publishing on the web, it is important you provide a link to this site, because all licensed users will be listed here.
Q: Once I have a license, can I sell the neck (or instrument)?
A: Yes. The unique serial number and the patent number must be included with the neck, as mentioned above.
Q: I'm not sure if I will like the profile. Can I build a neck to test how it feels, before buying a license?
A: Licensing is required. If you are unsure about the profile, test the shape on a piece of scrap wood. This will save you the time and expense of building a neck, until you are sure you like the shape. Testing on scrap wood will also help you decide which version of the neck profiles you prefer.
Q: We would like to use the neck profile in our school, for education purposes. Do we need to license?
A: Licensing is required. Group license rates can be negotiated. When you apply for licensing, discuss your specific needs.
Q: Rick Toone granted me self-build not-for-profit permission to build a neck for myself. Does this mean I now have to pay to get a license?!
A: For purposes of market research, Rick Toone granted permission to polite requests from individuals who wanted to build a neck for him or her self. Those individual permissions will still be honored. The conditions of the permission remain in effect:
a. The neck must be built by the individual who was granted permission
b. The neck can not be sold
c. Permission is for one neck only
d. Permission can not be transferred to another individual
e. Publication of the neck must include specific mention the profile is used with permission from Rick Toone, inventor of the profile
As of August, 2011, and forward until the termination date of the patents, self-build not-for-profit requests will no longer be granted. Licensing is required.
I would like to personally thank all of you who have respectfully asked for permission, as well as provided wonderful feedback about why you love the neck profiles. I am deeply appreciative of your help.
The market research you've provided will allow these unique and ergonomic shapes to now benefit a global audience of musicians. Cheers!
