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Via GAF:
Get 'em Bucky Badger!Quote:
Bloomberg is reporting that the University of Wisconsin has filed a lawsuit against Sony, Toshiba, and four other companies. The school claims that patents it filed in 1986 for miniature-fabrication technology were violated by Sony's Emotion Engine, which is the main processor in its PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system. They're suing for damages and an order to bar Sony from using the technology again.
Interesting, but why wait until now? So that they could get the most $$ out if sony me thinks.
I'm digging that avatar Videodrone. Ya just can't beat the primary colors :)
Pa
I'm so sick of patents. When you make something, you should have a 1-year maximum window in which to make the most out of your technological advancement. After that, it should be anybody's gain.
Things like this are items that are just waiting to be invented. If you got to it first, great, but that shouldn't mean that you then get a long-term claim to it.
Bloomberg should have invented and patented a False and Misleading Hype Machine. They could've then proceeded to sue Sony's pants off.
I've met Bucky, he could kick your ass.
One year, shidoshi? Cmon.... thats ludicrous.
The University of Wisconsin has every right to protect its patent. This is not some bullshit like Amazon's one-click patent or Microsoft's recently-granted IM-patent technology.
The University of Wisconsin's research is funded by the state and federal governments; if Sony violated the patent than it is in their best interest to pursue damages. A top university like UW lives and dies on its research and its patents, and protecting this is crucial.
And I know somebody said "why now?"... maybe because a processor is a complex thing and they needed plenty of time to fully investigate whether or not Sony violated any patents. I can definitely see that taking upwards of 2 years...
... if it's a legit concern. We see so many bullshit patent lawsuits nowadays that we are quick to dismiss any ones that come along... but I doubt this is the case here.
A one-year patent is ludicrous for technlogy, especially due to the ever-evolving nature of it. Very little progress can be made in a year for some things, and to deprive someone (a person/company) of it after a year means that someone can just swoop in and basically render all of their hard work uselss.
lol!Quote:
Originally Posted by shidoshi
1 year was an example I'd imagine, but I agree there should be some kind of limit to a patent if the holder does absolutely nothing with it for quite some time, hey this is America after all and they just want money like everyone else ;)