The Idea Club
The best ideas are shared ideas.

Where ideas become tangible—and stay free.

by admin — last modified 2025-11-07T22:57:19+00:00
The Idea Club is a place to share, collaborate, and build open-source hardware and software projects.

What Is The Idea Club?

The Idea Club is a place to share, collaborate, and build open-source hardware and software projects. Our mission is to:

  • Democratize innovation by making designs freely available.
  • Reward creativity through a generosity-based model.
  • Build a community of makers, engineers, and dreamers who believe in open access and collective improvement.

Here, the idea itself is what matters—not patents, paywalls, or corporate control.

How It Works

  1. Share an Idea:

    • Publish your designs, schematics, or plans for hardware/software projects.
    • License them under the TIC-OHSL (The Idea Club Open Hardware & Software License).

  2. Collaborate and Improve:

    • Others can use, modify, and build on your work—as long as they share improvements under the same license.
    • No corporate lock-in, no hidden fees.

  3. Support the Creators:

    • If a project helps you profit significantly (over 333.33 ounces of gold/year), we ask for:
      • Attribution (credit where it’s due).
      • Shared improvements (keep the commons growing).
      • (Optional) 2% of revenue in gold or equivalent to support ongoing work.
    • Hobbyists, students, and non-profits use everything for free.

  4. Give Back:

    • Contribute improvements, feedback, or funding to keep the cycle going.

The TIC-OHSL License

(The Idea Club Open Hardware & Software License)

Core Principles:

  • Open Access: Anyone can use, modify, or distribute the work.
  • Attribution Required: Give credit to the original creator.
  • Share Improvements: Derivative works must use the same license.
  • Generosity Model: Commercial users earning over 333.33 oz gold/year are encouraged to contribute 2% of revenue to sustain the project.

Why This License?

  • No patents: Ideas stay free and accessible.
  • No corporate control: Prevents monopolization.
  • Sustainable: Supports creators without stifling innovation.

Read the full license here. (Link to your license page.)

Featured Project: Torque Monster

"A high-torque, rim-mounted motor that rethinks e-bike propulsion."

  • Open-source hardware: Full CAD files, schematics, and build instructions.
  • No gears, no complexity: Direct-drive torque using the wheel’s moment arm.
  • License: TIC-OHSL (use freely, share improvements, and support the project if you profit).

View the Torque Monster Project (Link to the project page.)

Why This Matters

  • Freedom: No one owns the ideas—they belong to everyone.
  • Collaboration: Build on others’ work without asking permission.
  • Sustainability: Funds go back into more open-source projects.

Get Involved

  1. Browse Ideas: Explore projects and contribute.
  2. Share Your Work: Publish your designs under TIC-OHSL.
  3. Support the Club: Donate, sponsor, or collaborate.

Browse Projects | Submit an Idea | Support Us

Support The Idea Club

We rely on generosity and collaboration to keep going. Here’s how to help:

1. Gold or Monero (XMR)

  • Gold: The ultimate sovereign currency.
    • Mail physical gold to: [Your Address]
    • Digital gold: Vaulted (contact for details).
  • Monero (XMR): Private, decentralized, and uncensorable.

2. Liberapay

  • Recurring donations for ongoing support: Liberapay

3. Barter or Trade

  • Offer skills, materials, or time in exchange for support.
  • Email us at paul@theidea.club to arrange.

Who’s Behind This?

The Idea Club was started by Paul O’Rorke, a jack-of-all-trades with a passion for open-source hardware, vibrational physics, and rethinking how things work. This isn’t a company—it’s a movement.

If you do not agree to any of the above then GO NO FURTHER and DO NOT USE ANYTHING FROM THIS SITE.

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