Sony Sued (Again) Over Blu-ray Patent Infringement

[fitbabits]

Edge Online (http://www.edge-online.com/news/ps3-targeted-blu-ray-suit) (RIP, Next-Gen) is reporting that "Orinda Intellectual Properties USA has filed suit against Sony, claiming the PS3-maker has infringed on Blu-ray-related patents."

Orinda has demanded a jury trial, and is seeking an injunction on manufacturing, sales and distribution of Blu-ray devices such as the PS3, computer peripheral products and dedicated Blu-ray players.

The plaintiff is also asking for "a reasonable royalty."

"Orinda has been and will continue to be damaged as a result of Defendants' infringing conduct," the company said in the filing. "Defendants' infringing conduct will continue unless permanently enjoined by this court."
There's not a lot else to report right now, but hopefully Sony has learned from the Sony - Immersion (http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2007/03/02/sony-pays-150m-to-settle-immersion-playstation-patent-suit) debacle.

[JediSanf]

Immersion is a real company. This lot deserves to have gasoline thrown on them and then get lit.

I have 0 patience for useless lawsuits.

[Fonz]

There's not a lot else to report right now, but hopefully Sony has learned from the Sony - Immersion (http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2007/03/02/sony-pays-150m-to-settle-immersion-playstation-patent-suit) debacle.

Hopefully you've learned by now that this is the third time Sony has been sued for Blu-ray infringement the past two times the cases were dismissed. I seriously doubt Sony will pay up for this one. There are technology companies out there that just file hundreds of patents a year and then wait for large companies to file and make similar patents, then proceed to sue the living pants off them. I wouldn't be surprised if this again is the case.

[Talon-]

There's not a lot else to report right now, but hopefully Sony has learned from the Sony - Immersion (http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2007/03/02/sony-pays-150m-to-settle-immersion-playstation-patent-suit) debacle.

I fail to see how what Sony - Immersion has in common with this suit outside of the fact that legal action was involved. Sony - Immersion had to do with Sony being boneheaded and not paying up for rumble technology.

This is a frivolous lawsuit based on patent number, "which in broad terms describes methods for recording and reproducing information via optical disc."

[fitbabits]

I fail to see how what Sony - Immersion has in common with this suit outside of the fact that legal action was involved. Sony - Immersion had to do with Sony being boneheaded and not paying up for rumble technology.

This is a frivolous lawsuit based on patent number, "which in broad terms describes methods for recording and reproducing information via optical disc."

At the beginning of the Immersion debacle, Sony tried to write the whole thing off frivolity, etc. I've never heard of OIP, but before the litigation, I'd never heard of Immersion, either.

[Talon-]

At the beginning of the Immersion debacle, Sony tried to write the whole thing off frivolity, etc. I've never heard of OIP, but before the litigation, I'd never heard of Immersion, either.

Except Immersion's patents were actually rather specific about the mechanisms used.

This patent claim is, according to Edge and Engadget affiliates, a broad description of layering information on optical discs, and, like the Fonz said, it's the third time that a similar vague suit has been brought forth.

At least this isn't as ridiculous as that one company that put in a suit against a litany of "offenders" last year for "synchronized parallel processing with shared memory." *facepalm*

[Mathilda]

why is just SONY being sued? I thought Blu-Ray was developed as a consortium of companies not just SONY.

P.S. When a company gets sued, and I mean a global company like SONY, they get an accountant to do the math and project how much it would cost them to fight it versus them paying out. They have a formula. If it saves them money they will fight the plaintiff and drag it out until the other party loses so much money they have to give up.

[donkeydrop]

Orinda is a joke; what they do is go buy old worthless patents from other companies and then fire off a bunch of lawsuits hoping to get lucky. This patent apparently originated over 25 years ago with Hyundai and if it was any good they would have sued over DVD way back in the day.

[Talon-]

Orinda is a joke; what they do is go buy old worthless patents from other companies and then fire off a bunch of lawsuits hoping to get lucky. This patent apparently originated over 25 years ago with Hyundai and if it was any good they would have sued over DVD way back in the day.

Every time a story like this pops out, I think to myself about how the US Patent system needs an overhaul.

[Wolvie]

why is just SONY being sued? I thought Blu-Ray was developed as a consortium of companies not just SONY.

P.S. When a company gets sued, and I mean a global company like SONY, they get an accountant to do the math and project how much it would cost them to fight it versus them paying out. They have a formula. If it saves them money they will fight the plaintiff and drag it out until the other party loses so much money they have to give up.

Huh, I thought the exact opposite. From my understanding Sony decided to go it alone this time and do their own format. Now DVD was done in concert with other companies, that I know for a fact.

[Talon-]

Huh, I thought the exact opposite. From my understanding Sony decided to go it alone this time and do their own format. Now DVD was done in concert with other companies, that I know for a fact.

Blu-ray Association (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_Association)

The "Blu-ray Disc Founder group" was started in May 2002 by nine leading electronic companies: Sony, Matsushita, Pioneer, Philips, Thomson, LG Electronics, Hitachi, Sharp, and Samsung. Spearheaded by Sony Corporation, on February 19th 2002 the companies announced that they were the "Founders" of the Blu-ray Disc and later changed their name to the "Blu-ray Disc Association" on May 18, 2004 to allow more companies to join their development.

Official Site (http://www.blu-raydisc.com/en/association/GeneralInfo.html)

Yes, I'm skeptical of Wikipedia, but the citation is there for the vital information.

[Wolvie]

Wow... makes me wonder who was in the HD-DVD camp. Work your Google magic Talon-!

[ElectricMonk]

Orinda is a joke; what they do is go buy old worthless patents from other companies and then fire off a bunch of lawsuits hoping to get lucky. This patent apparently originated over 25 years ago with Hyundai and if it was any good they would have sued over DVD way back in the day.

Well patents expire after 20 years so it's unlikely this is the case.

[Talon-]

Wow... makes me wonder who was in the HD-DVD camp. Work your Google magic Talon-!

The funny thing? The DVD Forum (chaired by Toshiba) actually pushed to create HD DVD. Of course, the assumption was for a while that a compromise would be met.

Through the power of Google, I give you this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_definition_optical_disc_format_war):

The HD DVD Promotion Group was a group of manufacturers and media studios formed to exchange thoughts and ideas to help promote the format worldwide. [18] Its members comprised Toshiba Corporation as the Chair Company and Secretary, Memory-Tech Corporation and NEC Corporation as Vice-Chair companies, and Sanyo Electric as Auditors; there were 61 general members and 72 associate members in total.[19] The HD DVD promotion group was officially dissolved on March 28th 2008, following Toshiba's announcement on February 19th 2008 that it would no longer develop or manufacture HD DVD players and drives.

[donkeydrop]

Well patents expire after 20 years so it's unlikely this is the case.

Sorry, bad math :( ... I should have said 15 years.