Floobydust (August 2023)

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A round-up of random thoughts…

Patent vs. Trademark

From a post on YamahaSynth.com

Folks, to clarify, “A trademark protects names, short slogans, or logos. A patent protects new inventions, processes, and compositions of matter (such as medicines). Importantly, ideas cannot be patented — your invention must be embodied in a process, machine, or object.”

“AN-X” is a trademark — the text “AN-X” and its stylized logo. Period. It is registered in the field of musical instruments. That’s it. Nobody knows the technology behind the name. Rephrasing Phil’s recommendation, look at the history of Yamaha products and you MIGHT get an idea about the technology.

Yamaha — nor anyone else — patents the complete technical design of a keyboard. Patents typically cover one specific technological invention. For example, there isn’t an SWP70 patent per se. Yamaha’s patents cover the NAND flash interface and related functions, specifically.

Thus, you will not find a Montage or MODX patent that describes the internal design of these products. You WILL find so-called design patents which cover the physical shape and appearance. Design patents are filed a long time after product release. Examples are US D889,532 (MODX6) and US D879,870 (CP88). The “D” is important in the patent number because design patents are in a class of their own.

Most of Yamaha’s patents are filed under non-descript names like “sound generation apparatus”. Good luck searching through those bland names! Patents are not scientific papers and are written in legalese. Some of the legalese is translated from Japanese. Good luck with that, too. 🙂 😮

Trademark names are not “leaked”. Trademarks (and patents) are published and public for good reason. Trademarks are published as part of the review process in which some third party can file an objection to the name/application. Companies know that trademark applications and patents (applications, too) are public. If something is secret, that something must be treated like a secret, i.e., never published. That is the meaning of “trade secret” protection.

BTW, when it comes to new unannounced products, I’m not interested in apparitions, visions, dreams, conspiracies, seances, or hot tips about which horse will win the third race at Ascot. 🙂 I hate to be that darned pedantic. It’s just that I sat through soooo many corporate training classes on this stuff. :p

A slow summer for sales?

Both Korg and Audio Modeling extended their summer software sales. Roland are offering rebates on select products.

August 1st and Yamaha drops MAP on Genos, CK88, DGX-670, Reface CS, Reface DX, P-45, NP-12. NP-32, and PSR-E273. Nearly every major USA on-line dealer reflects the new pricing.

A slow summer for sales? Has revenge travel sucked money out of musical instrument retail?

I get the lower prices for NP-12, NP-32 and P-45 as new models have already been announced and are slowly appearing in stock:

  • NP-12 ($200) → NP-15 ($270 USD)
  • NP-32 ($300) → NP-35 ($390)
  • P-45 ($450) → P-145 ($500 estimated)
  • P-125a ($700) → P-225 ($750)

I’m surprised to see drops for DGX-670 ($750) and CK88 ($1,300). They should be selling like fried churros at the county fair! Both instruments deliver terrific value for the money.

As to the new Yamaha CSP series, MAP for the CSP-295 ranges from $7,300 to $11,000. Gasp, those prices are rarefied… MAP for CSP-275 ranges from $5,700 to $7,000. CSP-255 comes in from $4,200 to $4,700. I’m holding my breath for a model replacing the P-515 digital piano. Maybe this Fall? No price drops on the older CSPs or P-515.

The new Yamaha pricing is good until October 2, 2023. More new products to come? We know the full Monty will drop in October. Stay tuned.

Yamaha P-225 demo videos

With Yamaha P-225 hitting the stores, new demo videos are popping up, too.

I like this chap’s Yamaha P-225 demo videos. Masataka Kono is a good player and is totally laidback. You gotta love him. It’s like a Japanese Mr. Rodgers does a piano demo. 🙂

Be ready for subtitles!

Overall, he has a favorable impression of the P-225 and its new GHC action (doesn’t cause fatigue and has less key noise than P-125 GHS). Damn, Yamaha is making some nice portable instruments — much better than my old 1990’s YPP, that’s for sure!

Copyright © 2023 Paul J. Drongowski