So, a lot of people are talking about Kim Dotcom’s latest gambit, which was to point out that he holds a patent (US 6,078,908 and apparently others in 12 other countries as well) that covers the basics of two-factor authentication, with a priority date of April of 1997. While interesting, he goes on to point out that he’s never sued over the patent because “I believe in sharing knowledge and ideas for the good of society.”
Tag Archives: patents
Judge says Apple, Motorola pursuing business strategy in court
Referring to the “parties’ obstreperous and cantankerous conduct,” Judge Robert N. Scola of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, described it as not a proper use of the court.
via Judge says Apple, Motorola pursuing business strategy in court | ITworld.
Word of the day!
obstreperous – Meaning “clamorous, noisy” and “argumentative,” it is from Latin ob-, “against,” and strepere, “to make a noise.”
‘Bezos Beep’ could replace the smartphone bump for mobile content sharing
For example, if the user of an e-reader or smartphone wants to share a book or picture with someone else, that person’s phone will transmit an audible signal that can be received and decoded by other devices within earshot. The decoded signal contains information (such as a URL) allowing the receiving device to download the shared content from a remote server.
via ‘Bezos Beep’ could replace the smartphone bump for mobile content sharing – GeekWire.
LOL. Someone reinvented the 300 baud modem.
China to Provide Financial Incentives For Filing Patent Applications Abroad
Under the new Measures, patentees can be subsidized only after the patent is issued. The new regulation also requires novelty, inventiveness, utility, and a stable legal status of the foreign patent
Copyright this
With a proper tax system, publishers like the L.A. Times or scientific journals may maintain a copyright for only a year or so before letting the content revert to public domain and letting Google and everyone else utilize the material for its small, but socially significant, remaining value.
via Copyright this – latimes.com.
I like this. It could probably work with patents as well.
Why Legos Are So Expensive — And So Popular
Lego goes to great lengths to make its pieces really, really well, says David Robertson, who is working on a book about Lego.
Inside every Lego brick, there are three numbers, which identify exactly which mold the brick came from and what position it was in in that mold. That way, if there’s a bad brick somewhere, the company can go back and fix the mold.
via Why Legos Are So Expensive — And So Popular : Planet Money : NPR.
Ericsson wants US import ban on Samsung products
Technologies at issue relate to electronic devices for wireless communications and data transfer including Radio Frequency (RF) technology and in some cases standardized communication protocols including GSM, GPRS, EDGE, W-CDMA, LTE, and 802.11 Wi-Fi standards, Ericsson said in the filing.
One in Six Active U.S. Patents Pertain to the Smartphone
If anything illustrates the absurdity of the current state of affairs in the patent system, it is that the smartphone handset market — although booming — accounts for less than 1% of the U.S. annual GDP (by U.S. sales) but encompasses 16% of all active U.S. patents.***
via One in Six Active U.S. Patents Pertain to the Smartphone.
To put the absurdity of the current system into perspective, scholars Christina Mulligan and Timothy B. Lee estimated that it would take roughly 2,000,000 patent attorneys working full-time to compare every software-producing firm’s products with every software patent issued in a given year.
Xbox team’s ‘consumer detector’ would dis-Kinect freeloading TV viewers
The patent application, filed under the heading “Content Distribution Regulation by Viewing User,” proposes to use cameras and sensors like those in the Xbox 360 Kinect controller to monitor, count and in some cases identify the people in a room watching television, movies and other content. The filing refers to the technology as a “consumer detector.”
via Xbox team’s ‘consumer detector’ would dis-Kinect freeloading TV viewers – GeekWire.
Apple’s Samsung statement reprimanded by court of appeal
At a hearing in the court in London on Thursday morning, the judge told Apple that it had to change the wording of the statement within 48 hours, carry it on its home page, and use at least 11-point font.
via Apple’s Samsung statement reprimanded by court of appeal | Technology | guardian.co.uk.
Bloomberg quoted Jacob as saying Apple’s statement was “a plain breach of the order”.