Sony Sued Over PS3 Cell Chip Technology

I haven't read the article yet, but it wouldn't be the first time that Sony has infringed on someone's copyright/patent. Anyone for rumble? :D
 
Wouldn't they have to go after intel as well because of the dual core? That is a odd patent to hold. That no one else can use multiple processors that share memory.
 
Why is this just being brought to light now? Sony announced the Cell processor years ago.
[quote name='rodeojones903']Wouldn't they have to go after intel as well because of the dual core? That is a odd patent to hold. That no one else can use multiple processors that share memory.[/QUOTE]

I was wondering the same thing. Sony's not the only company to make use of this technology. Though, I guess it's possible that Intel and AMD are paying this company royalties.
 
[quote name='hiccupleftovers']I haven't read the article yet, but it wouldn't be the first time that Sony has infringed on someone's copyright/patent. Anyone for rumble? :D[/QUOTE]

Aren't they being sued for Blu-Ray too?
 
The patent is for “A high speed computer that permits the partitioning of a single computer program into smaller concurrent processes running in different parallel processors.” Oddly enough, Sony’s own patent, filed in 2001 and issued in 2007, actually lists the 1991 patent as a citation. In other words, Sony’s own patent lawyers have already seen the old patent and deemed it not to be a threat, and the U.S. Patent Office apparently agreed when it issued Sony the patent in June.
Click to expand...
Going nowhere.
 
Haha, I can't see this going anywhere fast.

The fact that a case like this can even be brought before a court definitely shows that the patent system is in need of something rethinking...
 
Posted by Blitz at ps3fanboy.com...

this sheds some light on the situation -

Acacia Technologies Acquires Rights to Patent for Parallel Processing with Shared Memory.

Publication: Business Wire
Date: Thursday, May 3 2007
Subject: High technology industry

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:ACTG)(Nasdaq:CBMX) announced today that Acacia Patent Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary that is part of the Acacia Technologies group, a leader in technology licensing, has acquired rights to a patent relating to parallel processors with shared memory.
----------------------------------------------
It says 2007, not 1991. And about Acacia company...

Extracted from wikipedia:
Acacia has been accused of being a patent troll and frequently uses 'bully' tactics (extortion) in conducting its business[citation needed]. After it secures its broad-based patents, it then forces small companies to pay royalties on its licenses by threatening legal action knowing full well these companies cannot afford to defend themselves.
Acacia is named by the EFF as one of the worst offenders for crimes against the public domain including;

* Employing broad patents that would cover everything from online distribution of home movies to scanned documents and MP3s
* Threatening dozens of small companies, including many home-grown adult websites
* Infringement campaign threatens to chill freedom of expression by limiting small companies' and individuals' ability to stream their content online.]][1]

They are currently claiming to have a patent for any system that compresses and distributes video and multimedia, especially over the web. This is a very broad claim. They are currently suing the pornography industry, presumably because they would be a soft target.



In short: BS.
 
When I first saw this thread, I thought that the 20 gig PS3s would be even harder to find...
 
This is more reason why i hate the world. They sue on every little thing , I can't imagine how hard it's to obey by every patent someone puts out there.
 
[quote name='help1']Why do you even have an XBOX? Give yours to charity or something.[/QUOTE]

I thought it was funny... :) This is, after all, the PS3 section....

Since IBM and Toshiba were co-designers on the Cell Processor... it'll be interesting to see if IBM's _colossal_ patent portfolio will be used (along with Sony and IBM's giant piles of money, as well as lawyer pool) to finally crush the patent litigators like these dorks.

If the Wikipedia article is even remotely true (there are tons of companies which exist only on paper that have purchased patents and do nothing but sue), this should be fun to watch.

the Patent Office recently proclaimed it was going to review patents (albeit slowly) and stop granting these broad-based (with obvious prior art) patents... we'll see. ;)
 
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