The Big N gets caught on the wrong side of patent laws. Again.

[SilentHunter7]

Holy crap.. for real? That's just stupid! I don't know how many patents are out there, but I hope the records are well cataloged in digital format so you can just search it up like Google. Or else it'd be a total failure on the system's side.

I'm pretty sure you can look up patents on the internet, but considering the sheer volume of patents that are registered in the US alone (Over 4 million as of 2007 [http://www.uspto.gov/go/taf/cst_utl.htm]), it would be very impractical to look up every single one. Even recent ones, as half of the total patents were registered since 1994 (another issue I have: the US patent office handing out patents like hot-cakes.).

But working out a deal with holders of patents you are potentially violating really is the only fool-proof way to protect from a patent suit.

I would like to know what would happen if someone registered a patent similar to another, considering that even the patent office would have a hard time searching through 4 million patents.

 

[Radelaide]

Wouldn't Apple, Microsoft, and probably dozens of other computer manufacturers be liable too if they make touch screen computers? Why did they sue Nintendo first and only? This seems more like someone trying to get attention then an actual complaint. Although Nintendo is the biggest "offender" I would go for the most people to increase my chances of winning something, if I had that patent that is. And cared enough.

you would go against Microsoft in a legal dispute?

Your balls are bigger than watermelons my friend, i bow to you.

You know that Bill Gates would just bitchslap you with his team of super lawyers. You've got guts mate. *Also bows*

 

[Soycopter]

Holy crap.. for real? That's just stupid! I don't know how many patents are out there, but I hope the records are well cataloged in digital format so you can just search it up like Google. Or else it'd be a total failure on the system's side.

I'm pretty sure you can look up patents on the internet, but considering the sheer volume of patents that are registered in the US alone (Over 4 million as of 2007 [http://www.uspto.gov/go/taf/cst_utl.htm]), it would be very impractical to look up every single one. Even recent ones, as half of the total patents were registered since 1994 (another issue I have: the US patent office handing out patents like hot-cakes.).

But working out a deal with holders of patents you are potentially violating really is the only fool-proof way to protect from a patent suit.

I would like to know what would happen if someone registered a patent similar to another, considering that even the patent office would have a hard time searching through 4 million patents.

Vegeta what are the patent levels!!?
OVER 9000!!11one!!1

 

[Soycopter]

Holy crap.. for real? That's just stupid! I don't know how many patents are out there, but I hope the records are well cataloged in digital format so you can just search it up like Google. Or else it'd be a total failure on the system's side.

I'm pretty sure you can look up patents on the internet, but considering the sheer volume of patents that are registered in the US alone (Over 4 million as of 2007 [http://www.uspto.gov/go/taf/cst_utl.htm]), it would be very impractical to look up every single one. Even recent ones, as half of the total patents were registered since 1994 (another issue I have: the US patent office handing out patents like hot-cakes.).

But working out a deal with holders of patents you are potentially violating really is the only fool-proof way to protect from a patent suit.

I would like to know what would happen if someone registered a patent similar to another, considering that even the patent office would have a hard time searching through 4 million patents.

Vegeta what are the patent levels!!?
OVER 9000!!11one!!1

 

[Rolling Thunder]

So? Why precisely should the law endeavour to protect companies like Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony over the patent holder. After all, tis the former who can afford to pay for the most expensive lawyers.

 

[Daymo]

Companies should only allowed to patent something if they have proof they are going to use it. They should get like 5 or 10 years to show the patent office the product the patent was used in.

 

[milskidasith]

And tis the latter that hasn't realeased any product and made a patent that sounds, literally, like a time bomb. With new tech coming out for touch screens in the 90s, just make a patent for a gaming system using the touch screen and wait. You will get what you want.

It's basically an economic time bomb, and I could do it as well. All I have to do is get a patent on an enhanced "consumer marketable" pair of those virtual reality goggles they have on really high end arcade machines, wait 20 years, and be set for life in a lawsuit if it works. If not.... I wasted barely any to (excuse the meme here) set us up the bomb.

The point is, IF THE GUY HASN'T MADE A PRODUCT (key phrase), there is no sense in letting people randomly make patents and collect massive back royalties off the big companies later.

 

[Mr. Fister]

I wouldn't worry about anything bad happening to Nintendo. After all, their robot ninja legal team of doom has a very high success rate.

 

[Wargamer]

So? Why precisely should the law endeavour to protect companies like Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony over the patent holder. After all, tis the former who can afford to pay for the most expensive lawyers.

Because the Patent Holder is NEVER going to use the Patent. Imagine if people did that in other walks of life...

Say I owned the "patent" for your favourite football team. I never do anything with it, which means they can never play. I don't own the team, I don't contribute to the team, I don't even know what team it is! All I am doing is denying you your team for no reason, other than the possibility that one day someone will break the patent and I can sue them.

That isn't fair. It doesn't matter if it's a big company or some small-time twat. You should not be allowed to cling to a patent you cannot use.

 

[Jamash]

Ha, when I read "The Big N" in the topic title I thought along the lines of the "N Word". Didn't really know what to expect, but I'm disappointed.

 

[AceDiamond]

I kinda find this in the same vein as Gibson suing the makers of Guitar Hero because they suddenly remembered they "had an idea similar to it" that they patented.

Not sure which of the two is more ridiculous. Probably the Gibson one because they spent 3 years being sponsors of GH.