Patent Infringement Lawsuits Strike Again

[Capt_Thad]

Yet another patent infringement lawsuit, this time from Paltalk Holdings, Inc. (http://www.paltalk.com/) against Sony, NCsoft, Activision Blizzard, Turbine Studios, and Jagex Ltd for use of technology that allows multiple users to see the same game environment simultaneously. From Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/09/multiple-mmo-developerspublishers-named-in-patent-suit.ars[/url) (via Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/09/16/westwoods_turbine_inc_named_in_patent_infringement _lawsuit/)):

The suit was filed in Marshall, Texas; a typical starting point for patent legal lawsuits because it's considered plaintiff-friendly in such cases. The basis for the complaint stems from the claim that the companies are infringing on patents that Paltalk purchased in 2002 from another company called HearMe.

Essentially, the patents cover sharing data between computers that are connected together so users see the same digital environment. Paltalk claims that the technology used by the defendants in their games violates these patents because players have to see the same environs simultaneously when they play an MMO title together.

SSDD, but that's a lot of wealthy studios to be taking on at once. They're really counting on that precedence factor.

[modeps]

What, no Dwarf Fortress?

[Jotoco]

And people ASK why most other countries won't take american seriously...

this and the racism stuff

[Wombat]

Why isn't EA on the list for Ultima Online?

[HarverdGrad]

And people ASK why most other countries won't take american seriously...

this and the racism stuff

..spoken like a jealous person NOT from America :D

[Jotoco]

..spoken like a jealous person NOT from America :D

Nah. You can keep it all to yourselves.

[greenapple]

And people ASK why most other countries won't take american seriously...

this and the racism stuff

Let me get this straight- people in other countries don't take the US seriously, because of our patent system?

Really? That's the reason? I didn't know that the global population was so in-tune with patent issues.

There are reasons to not take the US seriously- I'm pretty sure that the patent system doesn't even make the top 100 list of reasons.

[Rarely Operable Brain]

And people ASK why most other countries won't take american seriously...

this and the racism stuff

It's true - we're the only country on planet Earth that has racism. Of course, that comes in a close second next to the all-important legality of patents. :rolleyes:

[timmyd]

But what if somebody patents racism?

[TacoBob]

Let me get this straight- people in other countries don't take the US seriously, because of our patent system?

Really? That's the reason? I didn't know that the global population was so in-tune with patent issues.

There are reasons to not take the US seriously- I'm pretty sure that the patent system doesn't even make the top 100 list of reasons.

Yep! It's true! I was over in Norway the other day and they were all shaking their fists at me, shouting things like, "Go home Yankee! And take your horrible patent system with you!"

[brandonjclark]

And people ASK why most other countries won't take american seriously...

this and the racism stuff


And people ASK why most American's won't take foreigners seriously...


get a fucking clue

[brandonjclark]

But what if somebody patents racism?

Al Sharpton would like his future back.

[gojira]

There was an old Unix program called "talk" that let a bunch of users see the same text terminal at the same time -- and type to each other too. There has to be prior art for hooking up computers on a network, this patent is just crazy.

Not to mention the Cyber Data's in the machine room we had, which were old NORAD comps. Great number crunchers, and they all showed the same screen like an air traffic controller screen if you wanted.

[mikeohara]

I'm tempted to go to the courthouse in Marshall just to laugh at them.

[Earth Djinn]

Every now and then we have these nobody companies coming out and claiming that these successful game makers are infringing on some patent or technology and demanding enormous money in return.

Its just pathetic, and an obvious money grab.

[Anenome]

I've had a patent on the letter 'S' for nigh on twenty years now. Near as I can tell, every game ever made has used that letter somewhere, text or credits, thus entitling me to a portion of the profits. I've been sitting back and giving people enough rope to hang themselves. Pretty soon I'll unleash my lawyer brigade on the unsuspecting users of the English language. You'll all be writing in Japanese when I'm done with you! Mua--muaha-muahahahahah!

[StANTo]

There's a patent on multiple people seeing the same game environment?

No, really?

That's dumb.

[Jotoco]

For people who wouldn't get it: Bazingua!

[Stormwatcher]

And people ASK why most American's won't take foreigners seriously...


get a fucking clue
His post was dumb, your post was much dumber.

[Shela Monster]

Get rich or sue tryin'!

It's my new album!
The songs are lists about all the companies that borrow from each other... illegally!

~Shela Monster

[Johan]

And people ASK why most American's won't take foreigners seriously...

I took Foreigner seriously in the 70s, but their music has declined since then. :D

[brandonjclark]

His post was dumb, your post was much dumber.


Hmmm, let's analyze that genius.

On one hand, I used my Internet Evil Avatar space to point out the irony is the OP's statement, and how it might be interpreted to be ridiculous if you turn it around.

You, on the other hand, used your space to call someone's post dumb.


Who's genius now?

[7ofswords]

Who's genius now?

I am, now get in the truck.

[tehhu1k]

Trying to get back on-thread;

This better be thrown out of court...srsly. Or not even make it to court. It has to be one of the most generic patent filings of all time.

Now, to play devils advocate. If you had the opportunity to get millions of dollars without doing much, at the price of mocking the US Patent system and ignoring a few thousand threads defaming you...would you do it?

[Boom Doc]

I think the reason that they feel they can take on all these companies now is that they sued Microsoft for the same patent and Microsoft settled. So they're hoping that since Microsoft felt it was smart to just settle that these other big companies will just do the same. I can't say I blame them. If it worked once why not try again. If anything we should blame Microsoft for not fighting it more.