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Matt - on this patent thing, the wording of the patent laws does give the impression that you cannot use a patented item without authorization of the patent holder
but I cannot believe that would include building one for the purpose of teaching students how it works.
Patent laws existed to protect the commercial usage of inventions - If I invented the airplane and patent it, then you cannot build an airplane and use it for commercial purposes
but can you build one and use it for yourself? or to teach students how an airplane works?
Can anyone reference a website or other source that explicitly discusses personal or educational use of patented things? I found lots of information on copywrited material and 'fair use' - but nothing specific to patents.
[Matt, I think you got me on this one :c) ]
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