Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft has long maintained that Linux infringes at least 235 of its patents, and it looks like it’s reaching deep into the bin for some extra ammo in a new case filed against TomTom over nav systems — of the eight alleged patent infringements in the complaint, five are specifically about portable navigation devices , while the remaining three cover what look to be filesystem-management techniques inherent to the Linux kernel itself. It seems like the Linux issue is less important to Redmond than the GPS patents — deputy general counsel Horacio Gutierrez says there aren’t any broader plans to go after Linux vendors and that it “respects and appreciates” open source — but if Microsoft scores a victory here, it’ll have an incredible advantage should it decide to take on any other Linux-based products. We’ll be following this one very closely, we’ll keep you in the loop.

[Via Business Insider]

Read – Techflash
Read – Microsoft complaint [PDF]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Microsoft files patent lawsuit against TomTom over Linux-based GPS systems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While most folks welcome gaming devices that do more than simply play games, Texas-based Wall Wireless LLC seems to think that’s a bit over the line, at least when it’s not getting a piece of the action. More specifically, the little known company says that Sony, Nintendo, and Nokia are infringing on its patent for a “Method and Apparatus for Creating and Distributing Real-Time Interactive Media Content Through Wireless Communication Networks and the Internet,” which apparently relates to someone distributing “messages having aural or visual content that is generated by the operator using handheld apparatuses such as mobile telephones.” According to Wall Wireless, that patent not only covers the DS and PSP, but specific games like Mario Kart and Wipeout Pulse, and a whole host of Nokia’s game-playing phones, including the N95, N93, and N82. As a result, it’s seeking a permanent injunction against the allegedly infringing companies lest it be “irreparably harmed,” as well as the usual damages, expenses, and attorney’s fees, not to mention “pre-judgment and post-judgment interest.”

[Via Register Hardware]

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming

Sony, Nintendo and Nokia sued for making gaming devices that do stuff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, you knew this was going to happen: Dell’s filed a petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office requesting that Psion’s “netbook” trademark be canceled. It was only a matter of time before something like this happened, of course — the word “netbook” is in such widespread usage that Psion’s nastygrams are unlikely to have any meaningful impact, and the company’s weasely claims that it was only going after those “making a direct financial profit” basically guaranteed it was chasing after one of the big players. Word to the wise, Psion: it’s almost certain that you’ll lose this legal battle, but the PR war is easily won — and coupled with an interesting product, like, say, an all-new Ion-powered Psion Netbook, you could actually come out way ahead. Think about it, won’t you?

[Via thegadgetsite]

Filed under: Laptops

Dell files to strip “netbook” of trademark status originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh, brother. Another Intel / NVIDIA paper fight? As fate would so fittingly have it, these two giants are meeting up yet again, this time in the courtroom. After talks “of over a year” failed to amount to anything, Intel has filed suit against NVIDIA that — according to Intel — “seeks to have the court declare that NVIDIA is not licensed to produce chipsets that are compatible with any Intel processor that has integrated memory controller functionality, such as Intel’s Nehalem [Core i7] microprocessors and that NVIDIA has breached the agreement with Intel by falsely claiming that it is licensed.” Of course, NVIDIA’s official stance is that Intel is simply trying “stifle innovation to protect a decaying CPU business.” We have all ideas that the whole truth (and nothing but the truth) lies somewhere in between, but we guess that’s why we have people called “lawyers” heading to work each day. If you’re daring enough to dig deeper, all the links you need are neatly positioned below.

[Via HotHardware]

Read – Intel’s take
Read – NVIDIA’s official response
Read – Further Intel comments

Filed under: Desktops, Misc. Gadgets, Gaming, Peripherals

Intel takes NVIDIA to court over chipset licensing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aw, snap! Just months after Funai took the reins from Philips in North America, along comes a lawsuit for its lawyers to deal with. VIZIO, still feeling proud after its all-business Super Bowl ad, has thrown a potent antitrust and unfair competition lawsuit in Funai’s direction. The outfit alleges that Funai, “acting alone and in concert with others, unlawfully restrained trade and monopolized the market for the licensing of technology used to interpret and retrieve information from a digital television broadcast signal, as well as the market for digital television sets and receivers.” Specifically, VIZIO seems perturbed that Funai inappropriately acquired the rights to one single US patent, and ever since it has “unfairly discriminated against VIZIO in the licensing and enforcement” of said patent to the “detriment of trade and commerce.” There’s no mention of how many bills VIZIO thinks will fix the problem, but Funai better not try filling stacks of hundies with Washingtons in between.

[Image courtesy of TooMuchNick / WireImage]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

VIZIO files antitrust and unfair competition lawsuit against Funai originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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