Originally Posted by
Gene McCluney
Attaching a 4x5 back to a Polaroid is not a patentable thing, in my opinion. Perhaps the Littman patented the design of his 4x5 back. I know for sure, from looking at many online photos, that the Razzle 4x5 back is entirely different from the Littman. Other than the back, there is no other patentable modification done. Changing out the lens and lens standard, sawing off un-needed camera parts, repainting body, and recovering with new leatherette, and recalibrating the rangefinder are not patentable things.
You can do whatever mods you want to any camera you own without fear of infringing on anything. Even if you were to acquire a Littman 4x5 back, and put it on your camera, as long as you didn't make a "fake" Littman back, or call your camera a Littman, you could even sell your camera. The Littman name for the camera may be copyrighted..which is not the same thing as a patent. Just call your camera a Flowmeister Delux or something.
Once you own a camera, it is yours. You don't license a camera, you purchase it. It is yours. You can set fire to it if you wish. You can shoot with your own camera equipment anywhere in the world, as long as photography is permitted.
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