Interest is not first use in commerce
Waitlist and preorder-interest pages are useful launch and specimen preparation evidence, but they should not be logged as completed sales.
Commerce evidence
Separate launch interest from real commerce proof.
SteelThumb can prepare product pages, waitlists, labels, packaging, and manuals now. First-use-in-commerce evidence should wait for an actual paid order, order confirmation, fulfillment record, and captured specimen path.
Evidence rule for product launch
Checkout proof needs an actual paid path
Record the live checkout page, order confirmation, receipt, fulfillment record, refund path, and shipped-goods evidence before claiming first-use-in-commerce dates.
Counsel decides filing basis and classes
Keep SteelThumb, SteelThumb Grow Kit, SeedPort, PlotTags, and Tendril packets ready for review, but do not treat draft categories as legal class decisions.
First-sale evidence ledger
| Product | Current evidence | Missing before first-use claim | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteelThumb Grow Kit | Product page, preorder-interest page, SKU catalog, label, packaging, and manual-cover specimen captures. | Live paid checkout, order confirmation, shipped kit record, final installed product photos, and counsel-approved filing basis. | Pre-commerce evidence only |
| SeedPort | Standalone product page, preorder-interest page, SKU catalog, label, packaging, and manual-cover specimen captures. | Live paid checkout, order confirmation, shipped unit record, prototype/seed-starting proof, and counsel-approved filing basis. | Pre-commerce evidence only |
| PlotTags | Product page, preorder-interest page, SKU catalog, label, packaging, and manual-cover specimen captures. | Live paid checkout, order confirmation, shipped tag set record, final CAD/release decision, and counsel-approved filing basis. | Pre-commerce evidence only |
Counsel packet records
Commerce policy surfaces
Safety boundariesSafety readinessCompliance and insurance readinessManual readinessQuickstartsPackaging readinessSupport readinessCustomer policy approvalWarranty draftReturns draftTerms draftPrivacy draftTrademark/IP boundaryOpen hardware boundaryOwnership/support boundaryLaunch decisionRelease controlCommerce evidenceBatch readinessInventory readinessFulfillment readinessPricing readinessShipping and tax readinessCheckout readinessCheckout integrationOrder intake readinessSales channel readinessListing draftsSKU scope freezePackage offersSupplier readinessProduct proofPilot readinessPilot packet templateIP readinessIP action registerSpecimen capture