boat plans

[power boater]

Gentlemans

A few years back, I purchased a complete 37" yacht design that I never build.
My question is, can I legally sell this plans on line, without bracking any laws?
Thank you in advance.

 

[DCockey]

Disclaimer - I am not a lawyer.
I assume you are asking about advertising a set of paper plans online then selling the copy of the plans which you currently own. In that case there is not a statute which would prohibit selling your copy of the plans. However you may have entered into an contract with the seller when you purchased the plans. If so then the contract may limit what you can do with the plans.
Making and selling copies of the plans, either electronic or paper, would very likely violate copyright law.

 

[BlueBell]

Ask a maritime lawyer.
But I doubt it, even in Canada!
You'd have better karma giving them as a gift or selling them cheap to a friend.
What did you pay for them, if I may ask.
And was it really for a 37" yacht? A model?

 

[bajansailor]

In addition to the questions above, which 37' yacht is this please?

 

[power boater]

DCockey this is the original set of plans sold by the designer, no copys.
BlueBell I paid close to $5000.00 USD, so I would like about 50% of that and yes, this is a realy ocean going catamaran.

 

[bajansailor]

Who is the designer?
If they are still in existence, you could try contacting them, to ask them if your proposal meets with their approval?

 

[power boater]

I don't want to reveal the designer names at this stage but I am going to contact him and see what he says.
Thank you all for your input.

 

[Alik]

In fact, copy of plans for stock designs is not for re-sale.
If the plans were ordered by you to the designer and you actually own the exclusive rights, the designer might still limt responsibility and support to third parties.
These are our policies, at least...

 

[power boater]

Thank you Alik for the clarification.

 

[Chuck Losness]

Typically when a set of plans is sold the buyer buys the right to build one boat off of those plans and the designer agrees to provide some level of support. Sounds like power boater is wanting to sell his rights to build one boat off of the plans. The designer would be hard pressed to stop the sale. Or sue for damages. Rights under contracts are usually freely assignable.

The designer could refuse to provide whatever amount of support that went with the plans. That could put the designer in breach of the contract subjecting the designer to damages for whatever it might cost the buyer to obtain the support elsewhere. This is basic contract law. The contract should be reviewed by a lawyer well versed in contract law in the jurisdiction. International law may come into play if the designer is in a different country from power boater.

 

[BlueBell]

If they are still in existence, you could try contacting them, to ask them if your proposal meets with their approval?

Bajansailor hit the nail-on-the-head; talk with the designer.
He/she wants their boat design built and is likely to compromise.

 

[power boater]

First and foremost, Thank you all very much for the advise.
As soon I have a chance I will contact the designer with a proposal and if he accepts I will let you know and give the details.
However, if I am not sucessuful I will not put the plans for sale.