diff --git a/src/build123d/geometry.py b/src/build123d/geometry.py
index 185dc720..009b480b 100644
--- a/src/build123d/geometry.py
+++ b/src/build123d/geometry.py
@@ -444,8 +444,10 @@ def __repr__(self) -> str:
 
     __str__ = __repr__
 
-    def __eq__(self, other: Vector) -> bool:  # type: ignore[override]
+    def __eq__(self, other: object) -> bool:
         """Vectors equal operator =="""
+        if not isinstance(other, Vector):
+            return NotImplemented
         return self.wrapped.IsEqual(other.wrapped, 0.00001, 0.00001)
 
     def __hash__(self) -> int:
@@ -670,7 +672,7 @@ def __str__(self) -> str:
 
     def __eq__(self, other: object) -> bool:
         if not isinstance(other, Axis):
-            return False
+            return NotImplemented
         return self.position == other.position and self.direction == other.direction
 
     def located(self, new_location: Location):
@@ -1468,10 +1470,10 @@ def __mul__(self, other: T) -> T:
     def __pow__(self, exponent: int) -> Location:
         return Location(self.wrapped.Powered(exponent))
 
-    def __eq__(self, other: Location) -> bool:
+    def __eq__(self, other: object) -> bool:
         """Compare Locations"""
         if not isinstance(other, Location):
-            raise ValueError("other must be a Location")
+            return NotImplemented
         quaternion1 = gp_Quaternion()
         quaternion1.SetEulerAngles(
             gp_EulerSequence.gp_Intrinsic_XYZ,
@@ -2139,27 +2141,6 @@ def offset(self, amount: float) -> Plane:
             origin=self.origin + self.z_dir * amount, x_dir=self.x_dir, z_dir=self.z_dir
         )
 
-    def _eq_iter(self, other: Plane):
-        """Iterator to successively test equality
-
-        Args:
-            other: Plane to compare to
-
-        Returns:
-            Are planes equal
-        """
-        # equality tolerances
-        eq_tolerance_origin = 1e-6
-        eq_tolerance_dot = 1e-6
-
-        yield isinstance(other, Plane)  # comparison is with another Plane
-        # origins are the same
-        yield abs(self._origin - other.origin) < eq_tolerance_origin
-        # z-axis vectors are parallel (assumption: both are unit vectors)
-        yield abs(self.z_dir.dot(other.z_dir) - 1) < eq_tolerance_dot
-        # x-axis vectors are parallel (assumption: both are unit vectors)
-        yield abs(self.x_dir.dot(other.x_dir) - 1) < eq_tolerance_dot
-
     def __copy__(self) -> Plane:
         """Return copy of self"""
         return Plane(gp_Pln(self.wrapped.Position()))
@@ -2168,13 +2149,23 @@ def __deepcopy__(self, _memo) -> Plane:
         """Return deepcopy of self"""
         return Plane(gp_Pln(self.wrapped.Position()))
 
-    def __eq__(self, other: Plane):
+    def __eq__(self, other: object):
         """Are planes equal operator =="""
-        return all(self._eq_iter(other))
+        if not isinstance(other, Plane):
+            return NotImplemented
 
-    def __ne__(self, other: Plane):
-        """Are planes not equal operator !+"""
-        return not self.__eq__(other)
+        # equality tolerances
+        eq_tolerance_origin = 1e-6
+        eq_tolerance_dot = 1e-6
+
+        return (
+            # origins are the same
+            abs(self._origin - other.origin) < eq_tolerance_origin
+            # z-axis vectors are parallel (assumption: both are unit vectors)
+            and abs(self.z_dir.dot(other.z_dir) - 1) < eq_tolerance_dot
+            # x-axis vectors are parallel (assumption: both are unit vectors)
+            and abs(self.x_dir.dot(other.x_dir) - 1) < eq_tolerance_dot
+        )
 
     def __neg__(self) -> Plane:
         """Reverse z direction of plane operator -"""
diff --git a/src/build123d/topology.py b/src/build123d/topology.py
index 5e4f507c..269b43a0 100644
--- a/src/build123d/topology.py
+++ b/src/build123d/topology.py
@@ -1972,7 +1972,7 @@ def is_equal(self, other: Shape) -> bool:
 
     def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
         """Are shapes same operator =="""
-        return self.is_same(other) if isinstance(other, Shape) else False
+        return self.is_same(other) if isinstance(other, Shape) else NotImplemented
 
     def is_valid(self) -> bool:
         """Returns True if no defect is detected on the shape S or any of its
@@ -3704,9 +3704,15 @@ def __or__(self, filter_by: Union[Axis, GeomType] = Axis.Z):
         """Filter by axis or geomtype operator |"""
         return self.filter_by(filter_by)
 
-    def __eq__(self, other: ShapeList):
+    def __eq__(self, other: object):
         """ShapeLists equality operator =="""
-        return set(self) == set(other)
+        return set(self) == set(other) if isinstance(other, ShapeList) else NotImplemented
+
+    # Normally implementing __eq__ is enough, but ShapeList subclasses list,
+    # which already implements __ne__, so we need to override it, too
+    def __ne__(self, other: ShapeList):
+        """ShapeLists inequality operator !="""
+        return set(self) != set(other) if isinstance(other, ShapeList) else NotImplemented
 
     def __add__(self, other: ShapeList):
         """Combine two ShapeLists together operator +"""
diff --git a/tests/test_direct_api.py b/tests/test_direct_api.py
index dd027232..b6e7aab1 100644
--- a/tests/test_direct_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_direct_api.py
@@ -93,6 +93,12 @@
 RAD2DEG = 180 / math.pi
 
 
+# Always equal to any other object, to test that __eq__ cooperation is working
+class AlwaysEqual:
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        return True
+
+
 class DirectApiTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def assertTupleAlmostEquals(
         self,
@@ -363,13 +369,13 @@ def test_axis_equal(self):
         self.assertEqual(Axis.X, Axis.X)
         self.assertEqual(Axis.Y, Axis.Y)
         self.assertEqual(Axis.Z, Axis.Z)
+        self.assertEqual(Axis.X, AlwaysEqual())
 
     def test_axis_not_equal(self):
         self.assertNotEqual(Axis.X, Axis.Y)
         random_obj = object()
         self.assertNotEqual(Axis.X, random_obj)
 
-
 class TestBoundBox(DirectApiTestCase):
     def test_basic_bounding_box(self):
         v = Vertex(1, 1, 1)
@@ -1730,15 +1736,21 @@ def test_to_axis(self):
         self.assertVectorAlmostEquals(axis.position, (1, 2, 3), 6)
         self.assertVectorAlmostEquals(axis.direction, (0, 1, 0), 6)
 
-    def test_eq(self):
+    def test_equal(self):
         loc = Location((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6))
-        diff_position = Location((10, 20, 30), (4, 5, 6))
-        diff_orientation = Location((1, 2, 3), (40, 50, 60))
         same = Location((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6))
 
         self.assertEqual(loc, same)
+        self.assertEqual(loc, AlwaysEqual())
+
+    def test_not_equal(self):
+        loc = Location((1, 2, 3), (40, 50, 60))
+        diff_position = Location((3, 2, 1), (40, 50, 60))
+        diff_orientation = Location((1, 2, 3), (60, 50, 40))
+
         self.assertNotEqual(loc, diff_position)
         self.assertNotEqual(loc, diff_orientation)
+        self.assertNotEqual(loc, object())
 
     def test_neg(self):
         loc = Location((1, 2, 3), (0, 35, 127))
@@ -2666,6 +2678,8 @@ def test_plane_equal(self):
             Plane(origin=(0, 0, 0), x_dir=(1, 0, 0), z_dir=(0, 1, 1)),
             Plane(origin=(0, 0, 0), x_dir=(1, 0, 0), z_dir=(0, 1, 1)),
         )
+        # __eq__ cooperation
+        self.assertEqual(Plane.XY, AlwaysEqual())
 
     def test_plane_not_equal(self):
         # type difference
@@ -2955,6 +2969,17 @@ def test_is_equal(self):
         box = Solid.make_box(1, 1, 1)
         self.assertTrue(box.is_equal(box))
 
+    def test_equal(self):
+        box = Solid.make_box(1, 1, 1)
+        self.assertEqual(box, box)
+        self.assertEqual(box, AlwaysEqual())
+
+    def test_not_equal(self):
+        box = Solid.make_box(1, 1, 1)
+        diff = Solid.make_box(1, 2, 3)
+        self.assertNotEqual(box, diff)
+        self.assertNotEqual(box, object())
+
     def test_tessellate(self):
         box123 = Solid.make_box(1, 2, 3)
         verts, triangles = box123.tessellate(1e-6)
@@ -3439,6 +3464,20 @@ def test_compound(self):
         sl = ShapeList([Box(1, 2, 3), Vertex(1, 1, 1)])
         self.assertAlmostEqual(sl.compound().volume, 1 * 2 * 3, 5)
 
+    def test_equal(self):
+        box = Box(1, 1, 1)
+        cyl = Cylinder(1, 1)
+        sl = ShapeList([box, cyl])
+        same = ShapeList([cyl, box])
+        self.assertEqual(sl, same)
+        self.assertEqual(sl, AlwaysEqual())
+
+    def test_not_equal(self):
+        sl = ShapeList([Box(1, 1, 1), Cylinder(1, 1)])
+        diff = ShapeList([Box(1, 1, 1), Box(1, 2, 3)])
+        self.assertNotEqual(sl, diff)
+        self.assertNotEqual(sl, object())
+
 
 class TestShells(DirectApiTestCase):
     def test_shell_init(self):
@@ -3753,6 +3792,13 @@ def test_vector_equals(self):
         c = Vector(1, 2, 3.000001)
         self.assertEqual(a, b)
         self.assertEqual(a, c)
+        self.assertEqual(a, AlwaysEqual())
+
+    def test_vector_not_equal(self):
+        a = Vector(1, 2, 3)
+        b = Vector(3, 2, 1)
+        self.assertNotEqual(a, b)
+        self.assertNotEqual(a, object())
 
     def test_vector_distance(self):
         """