ArtraLab releases fast NONIKKOR-MC 35 mm full-frame lens with retro flair

[Redaktion]

ArtraLab has announced the NONIKKOR-MC f/1.4 35 mm full-frame lens for three popular lens mounts. The NONIKKOR-MC comes in two flavours inspired by the Nikkor 35 mm designs from the 1960's and 1980's. Retro camera and lens designs have been hot for a few years, and ArtraLab already has a catalogue of competent manual lenses.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/ArtraLab-releases-fast-NONIKKOR-MC-35-mm-full-frame-lens-with-retro-flair.716102.0.html

[bg]

These guys are going to be sued into the ground by Numon for trademark/trade dress infringement.

[julian.vdm]

These guys are going to be sued into the ground by Numon for trademark/trade dress infringement.

Not necessarily. Design patents only last 15 years before they enter public domain, and Nikon doesn't sell those old lenses anymore, so it's basically fair game as long as the trademark isn't copied. The only way I can conceive of Nikon having any ground to stand on in regards to these types of lenses is if they have some sort of novel element arrangement/functional piece that was directly ripped off (even then, see patent expiration thing) and it hurt Nikon's profits (ie. Nikon was still selling the lens that was ripped off).

Besides, more lenses for Nikon F mount is a good thing for Nikon camera sales.

[Can]

This len 35 1.4 is Z mount

[bg]

These guys are going to be sued into the ground by Numon for trademark/trade dress infringement.

Not necessarily. Design patents only last 15 years before they enter public domain, and Nikon doesn't sell those old lenses anymore, so it's basically fair game as long as the trademark isn't copied. The only way I can conceive of Nikon having any ground to stand on in regards to these types of lenses is if they have some sort of novel element arrangement/functional piece that was directly ripped off (even then, see patent expiration thing) and it hurt Nikon's profits (ie. Nikon was still selling the lens that was ripped off).

Besides, more lenses for Nikon F mount is a good thing for Nikon camera sales.

This has nothing to do with patent law.
Design patents and trademark/trade dress are two completely different things. These lenses are intentionally made to look like Nikon designs, and "Nonnikkor" is not only confusingly similar to the "Nikkor" mark that is definitely still being actively used by Nikon, but actually incorporates the wntire existing mark.