ID :
36305
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 16:35
Auther :

MALAYSIAN-DESIGNED FI POWERBOAT MODEL TO BE MARKETED IN US

KUCHING (Malaysia), Dec 18 (Bernama) -- Abdul Latiff Osman, a Malaysian who gained international fame via a popular video sharing website, Youtube, with his design of a Formula 1 powerboat model has struck a deal with US-based veteran FI powerboat designers to market his model in the US.

The Sarawak-born Latiff, whose design caught the eye of a veteran US F1
powerboat designer, Derick Collet, of Mississippi last October, said Collet had
agreed to reproduce his model and market it in US soon.

"He (Collet) did not mention when exactly my design will be marketed in the
US but presently I am made to understand that my design is undergoing several
tests," Latif told Bernama here Wednesday.

He said that there was no formal agreement signed as it was based on trust
from both parties.

If the test was successful and the design could be marketed commercially,
Latif said, Collet would have to pay him a licence fee to produce the model as
well as a royalty fee.

He said he was considering offers to design more powerboat models,
including
an offer to patent his models but was quick to add that his purpose was for
self-satisfaction and not for commecial reasons.


Latif's special ability has caught the attention of the Science, Technology
and Innovation Ministry when on Nov 23 Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof promised
to assist the 58-year-old former Formula 3 and Formula 3000 powerboat racer to
further enhance his skills in developing small-scale powerboat models.

Bernama last month reported that the boat model, named La-tiff Body Guard,
was introduced on Youtube more than a year ago.

Latiff was quoted as saying that his model, scaled 1:6, was sent to Collet
on Nov 13, and expressing his confidence that if successful, the model's name
'La-tiff' would be retained.

Latiff said he had only created and sold his models to fans of remote
control powerboat racing and never thought that an outsider would be interested
in his model with a power customised-design.

He claimed that there was tremendous response and support to continue
creating F1 powerboats after introducing his model on Youtube.

-- BERNAMA

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