The world of software patents is a strange, confusing, inefficient place. There’s a pretty serious question as to whether or not software patents should really even exist. Now, the USPTO is making moves to at least step in a better direction by calling out to software developers anywhere and everywhere for advice on fixing the whole thing up. More »
We know, we know: the patent system is broken. But what exactly should the US Patent and Trademark Office do to reform itself, particularly where nebulous software claims are concerned? If you ask the developers themselves, they might tell you code was never meant to be patented. Obviously, an outright ban might not sit well with USPTO officials, so the agency is instead taking a different tack: it’s hosting two roundtable events with the developer community to discuss the future of software patents.
These discussions, which will take place in February in New York and in the Silicon Valley, will focus on the the terms used to define a patent’s scope, among other topics. For those of you interested in attending, you’ll need to register by February 4th by sending an email to SoftwareRoundtable2013@uspto.gov (you’ll also need to list various credentials, which are outlined in the Groklaw post linked at the bottom of this post). Even then, seating is limited and entry is first-come, first-serve. If you can’t attend, the events will both be webcast, and the USPTO is inviting developers to send in written comments (the deadline for that is March 15th). Consider this your FYI and if you really do intend to go, comment or even host a presentation at one of the events, you’ll want to hit up the links below for more details.
Filed under: Software
Via: Groklaw
Source: USPTO
We’ve been hearing for years that console manufacturers will try to restrict used games with their upcoming consoles, and now it’s looking like Sony is taking steps to make that a reality. Last September, Sony filed a patent application for a technology that ties games discs to a user’s account or a console’s ID. Should this technology be implemented, it would mean that you won’t be able to play games you purchased used, rented, or borrowed, which certainly isn’t anything we want to hear.
The good news here is that a patent application doesn’t automatically mean this technology will be present in the next PlayStation (or any future consoles from Sony for that matter). Indeed, Sony frequently files patent applications for new technologies that never see the light of day, so this could just be another to add the pile. Still, it isn’t very encouraging to hear that Sony is actively pursuing new technologies that restrict used game sales.
With this system (as explained by NeoGAF user gofreak), game discs would be outfitted with a contactless RF tag that’s capable of remembering whether your disc has been tied to your user account or console ID. If it has been, it won’t play under another account or console, effectively blocking access to used games and, if adopted on a large scale, potentially bringing the massive market for used games to a screeching halt.
Sony’s system could allow for a limited number of uses instead of blocking the content outright, meaning that if Sony is feeling generous, it could allow a number of additional uses on other consoles or accounts so you can let your friends check out the game. On the other hand, it could be used to get you hooked on a game right before cutting off access, forcing you to go out and buy a new, sealed copy if you want to keep playing. We’ll have to wait and see just what happens with this patent application, but in the meantime, you can check out the full listing over at Free Patents Online.
[via Eurogamer]
Sony patent application looks to tie game discs to user accounts is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
There are a lot of leaks in the tech and gadget worlds, and many of these leaks center around blurry images of upcoming products that were snapped quickly to avoid being caught. RIM is looking to prevent these “spy cam” shots with a new patent it has on file with the USPTO. This patent is for technology that prevents a smartphone camera from snapping a picture unless the phone has been held still for a predetermined amount of time.
The idea, obviously, is preventing would-be leakers from snapping just a quick shot of an anticipated product. By requiring that the camera remain still for a certain amount of time before a picture can be snapped, you force these leakers to be a little more obvious in their picture taking, potentially preventing leaks before pictures can even be collected. It sounds like a great idea for businesses who want to keep vital information from being made public ahead of time, but other than that, this technology probably has limited uses.
Of course, we could all benefit from tech that requires us to hold the camera still before shooting a pictures, as it means we might have fewer drunken photos to regret. In any case, it makes sense that RIM is the one filing this patent, as most of its BlackBerry customers seem to be those in the business realm. In order for something like to this to prevent a significant number of leaks, however, more platforms outside of just BlackBerry would have to adopt it, which means paying RIM a licensing fee.
We’re not sure if RIM will have this technology up and running when BlackBerry 10 launches – probably not, considering RIM’s BlackBerry 10 launch event is just a few short weeks away – but don’t be surprised if this technology makes its way to the mobile OS at some point in the future. Do you think this new patent will do much to prevent unauthorized images, or will leakers still a find a way to get these pictures up on the Internet?
[via ZDNet]
New RIM patent filing puts “spy cam” pictures in its crosshairs is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Innovation is alive and well at RIM, especially in the anti-creepshot vector. A new patent, issued to the company yesterday by the USPTO, would cut down on “inconspicuous” camera shots like the ones taken by corporate espionage enthusiasts and total pervs. More »
This week U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh ruled that Samsung will indeed have to reveal specific device sales numbers for a variety of its gadgets, denying the Korean company’s request to keep that information secret. Samsung has to pony up the information after Apple made a follow-up request to its $1.05 billion award from a jury August 24 regarding damages resulting from the sale of Galaxy devices after a request to have them banned in the U.S. was denied.
Both sides in this case have continually made attempts to keep their sales figures and other internal business information private, but Koh has consistently denied most of these requests, citing a lack of any “compelling reason” to do so according to Bloomberg. Koh did grant a request from Samsung to delay the publication of a document that shows per-unit operating profit on two of the company’s handsets, however, pending an appeal by the Korean electronics giant.
Samsung was likewise hoping to keep these sales figures under wraps pending its appeal or an earlier sealing order, but that request was denied. That means that once again, Samsung will have to reveal sales numbers like it did back in August, when it showed 2010 – 2102 sales numbers for each of 24 of its devices, including the Galaxy S II and Nexus S 4G.
For a company that rarely goes into much detail about hard sales numbers of its handsets, that proved a rare peek behind the curtain for industry watchers, so it’ll be interesting to see what else these upcoming numbers tell us about Samsung’s growing success as a handset maker in the U.S.
The Apple vs. Samsung battle is trucking along, and this time there’s more bad news for Samsung. Yesterday, a somewhat censored version of presiding Judge Thomas Pender’s suggested sanctions regarding the Apple’s complaint to the ITC was published and it includes not only an import and sales ban on the infringing products, but also the posting of a bond for 88 percent of the value of those phones. More »
If you’re keeping track of the multiple, and let’s face it, tiresome Samsung / Apple patent debacle, a document that just turned up at the ITC might spell more trouble for the Korean manufacturer. It’s a publicly redacted version of Judge Pender’s recommendations, and pertains to the October ruling that deemed Samsung borrowed four of Cupertino’s designs. The most iconic being design patent D618,678 (that which you see above). The others include multi-touch patent 7,479,949 (which was tentatively invalidated) along with two other patents (RE41,922 and 7,912,501) relating to graphic display elements and audio hardware detection. If the recommendations are adopted — and FOSS Patents suggests this is entirely possible — Samsung could face a US import ban after a 60 day presidential review, an order prohibiting “significant” sales of infringing products in America along with a posting a bond for 88 percent of the entered value of mobile phones (plus 32.5 percent for media players and 37.6 percent for tablets) that include the breaching design features. Pender has, however, reportedly cleared several Samsung “designarounds” which, if implemented to satisfaction, would mean the tech giant could continue trading. For now though, the recommendations are awaiting the Commission’s review.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple, Samsung
Via: FOSS Patents
Source: ITC (Doc ID 500118)
Mark one in the win column, folks. Apple has dropped Samsung’s latest device, the Galaxy S III Mini, from its patent case against the Korean-based company. Apple agreed in a court filing to drop its infringement claims against the Galaxy S III Mini. Apple initially included the device because it was available for sale through Amazon.com, but Samsung argued that the device had not been officially released in the US, and therefore shouldn’t be covered.
Since Samsung is not selling the phone directly in the US, Apple agreed to drop it from the list of accused devices. However, it’s important to note that actions like this are common at this point in time, since both companies are finalizing which devices will be included in the upcoming trial. Plus, the Mini may be put back on Apple’s list if Samsung decides to sell the phone in the states.
Samsung started selling the Galaxy S III Mini in Europe back in October, but in their filing on Friday, Apple said that their lawyers were able to purchase “multiple units” of the Galaxy S III Mini from Amazon.com US site and have them delivered to the US without any problems, despite Samsung saying that the phone isn’t for sale in the US.
Of course, this is only one device out of several that Apple is dropping. They still have a handful of smartphones and tablets on their list, for which they’re seeking sales bans on. Then again, we’re surprised that Apple backed off so easily from Samsung’s claims about the Mini, despite claiming that they were able to purchase such a product from the US.
[via Reuters]
Apple drops Samsung Galaxy S III Mini from patent case is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
RIM responded to Nokia’s request to have its devices removed from sale following a patent decision in the Finnish company’s favor by working out a settlement, and now we’re beginning to get a sense of the specific terms of said arrangement. AllThingsD has uncovered an SEC filing that details RIM’s first lump-sum payments, which amounts to €50 million (or around $65 million). Following that initial exchange, RIM will have to make royalty payments on the sale of each device.
Nokia and RIM announced their new patent license agreement on December 21, sharing only that it would settle all patent litigation between the two telecommunications companies, and that it would include both a one-time payment (the $65 million alluded to in the new SEC documents) and ongoing payments from RIM to Nokia. Specific details were said to be confidential at the time, though Jeffries analyst Peter Misek told AllThingsD in the weeks leading up to the eventual settlement that the royalty rate RIM was likely to pay was somewhere in the $2 to $5 range per handset sold.
If those numbers are accurate, RIM could come close to essentially paying out roughly the same as the $65 million lump sum per year to Nokia in royalty fees. That may seem steep, especially for a beleaguered company like RIM, but it is actually in line with the payment structure Nokia has extracted from companies who settled past patent litigation with broad licensing agreements, including Apple.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
