There’s no automatic copyright with mechanical/functional design. You need a patent to claim rights to a design and that must be done before public disclosure (sales, publication, pictures on the internet)
When there’s a patent ![]()
Such odd responses here. If you literally scan the system that someone else designed and then sell products based from it (and it’s not just mast ends we’re talking about) how is that not stealing their IP? We’re not talking about a method of bolting a mast to a board. We’re talking about iterated, engineered, designed connection system that are key to a particular brands strength. Code, F-one, Armstrong, FliteLab - they’re not designing open systems. That there isn’t a patent (maybe there is??) doesn’t change it from being theft. A patent might make it easier/possible to litigate, but the absence of a patent doesn’t mean it isn’t theft - it just means the person copying the work is more likely to get away with it…
Some brands might be totally cool with it. Others may not be. I know Casey did some testing of different masts and adaptors on his Code equipment which indicated some openness to these ideas from Code Foils. The point is the brand has the right to see it how they see it. And saying the unauthorised use of a connection system isn’t theft is a generous view.
You have your take, you are entitled to it. You have a rationale for your take. Great. Myself and others have a different take, with a different rationale. Just because ours is at odds with yours doesn’t make it odd. Don’t much appreciate my view being labeled odd just because I don’t agree with you.
In any case, you have not said anything new your last couple if posts and you are killing what was an interesting thread. Please stop, rehashing your take further is highly unlikely to sway us oddballs who currently do not agree with you.
Definitely happy to leave it there Silas. I’m sorry that it did appear i was trying to change minds. Clearly that’s a fools errand, but I see that that is exactly how it looked. Any further questions will get the same boring response from me, so please all excuse me ignoring them.
As you were, gentlemen…
Lift introduced the foot style connection in 2010, I’m not sure if they patented though. Axis started making foils a couple of years later using a similar interface but with different dimensions. As far as I know you can’t patent/copywrite/protect dimensions as there is nothing novel.
Everybody and his dog,including Axis,copied Kalama’s Barracuda shape with minor tweaks.
Not to mention the whole inflatable wing thing,who was the first to go commercial?.Was it Naish?.
What about Parawings?
Unless it is very ,very well patented the reality is beg,borrow and steal…like blues licks ![]()
I am sorry for those who have original ideas and invest time and money.But for us consumers patents are terrible.
Im pretty sure Axis is just referring to the Chaxis ripoffs from China. Having aftermarket stuff compatable with Axis in fact increases the value of the Axis system. The Chinese ripoff stuff is sold using Axis’ name, design and even graphics-which is offside
I agree, but the Genric Foiling Podcast interview showed Adrian to be pretty salty with anyone making anything compatible with Axis parts.
He did make an interesting point where he said inferior foil finishing of other brands makes the fuses corrode more at the connection point, which then creates issues for Axis from a warranty point of view.
I’m pretty sure in that interview he mentioned there was no understanding or agreement with Axis, in terms of using their system.
I own Once Ocean Sports mast and love it! I use it every day. I got the 78 SS version as I planned on using it with large span wings like the Axis 1201/1401. It is very stiff, I also have the Axis High Mod 80cm mast to compare it. The axis mast is a touch stiffer but not by much, the 78 SS is thinner and narrower making it much more efficient and easier to pump. I only notice the stiffness difference on the 1401. I always chose the One Ocean Sports mast over the Axis one.
I’m surprised to hear the axis hm is stiffer. Doesn’t match my experience - I’ve found the 78 ss to be stiffer, but don’t have any numbers
Maybe I’m wrong. They were very similar in stiffness but I felt like the spanny 1401 had a touch more wiggle on the pump but I got used to it. It’s the only Mast I use now.
Sometimes a shorter chord confuses perception of stiffness. It feels like it swivels on the pump since it’s less locked in.
the big 1201 and 1401 wings are super sensitive not only to mast, but also the fuselage joint as well as the fuselage. For example, the advanced axis fuselage is easily noticeably stiffer just because it is half the length from mast to wing. The slightest difference in mast to fuse fit is immediately noticed on those big wings. I’m convinced a lot of confusion about mast stiffness comes from little details like this. So don’t take it as a fact that the one-ocean 78SS is less stiff than axis high modulus.
Are we talking about the Axis UHM or HM?
I had the chance to compare the Axis UHM 80cm and the One Ocean SS 78cm back to back. I was dockstarting the Fireball 1350, using the same foil plane with both masts. The Axis UHM is definitely the stiffer mast between the two.


