The whole smart parts thing...

[Munnin]

Microsoft is pretty much owns a monopoly while smart parts doesnt, so its kind of a stretch comparison.

nah, microsoft is more of an oligopoly(sp?)... hahah oligopoly, the only word i remember form economics class....

[SpitFire1299]

nah, microsoft is more of an oligopoly(sp?)... hahah oligopoly, the only word i remember form economics class....

Very true. Ive been looking for that word too, lol.

[Lohman446]

I love the amount of people here who have more knowledge than any companies lawyer or judges and can announce patents stolen that have been held up in court for the most part. My god, you all knowing, great people

Funny.. AKA was going to fight to the end, those patents had to be stolen, and yet when the looked at it in a legal sense.. oh, maybe not.

[doc_Zox]

actually AKA looked at it from the paying a patent lawyer hourly rate sense

Bill and Adam Gardner's dad is a Lawyer
and he works for SP...

Smart Parts can file paper work all day

[Jonesie]

OK, let's see who-else is like Smart Parts...

Microsoft (Stole the GUI fro Apple who stole it from Xerox) - How many of you use Windows?
Apple (Stole the GUI from Xerox) - How many of you have an iPod?


Now I have not read the above documents, BUT my understanding of the situation is that Smart Parts was either business saavy enough to protect their intelectual property, OR they were smart enough to patent technology that was previously uncovered by any existing at the time. How is this ruthless? They have an obligation to those investors whose retirements and/or livelihoods depend on the success or failure of the company.

Just an example of hypocrisy of you SP haters. Now go back to listening to your iPods and playing Minesweeper on your XP boxes.

[Lohman446]

Yeh, it aws all about paperwork

Funny, as I read the WDP v SP situation a judge decided that SP and WDP had both obtained the patent through there aquisition of PVI (or the aquisition of part of the intellectual property because someone did not sign a work product agreement) and its various intellectual properties. This was a business "buy" out move. Assuming PVI legally owned that intellectual property (and the Dr. involved - hence WDPs claim) than how was it stealing when they bought it? A judge did not rule either WDP or SPs claims as invalid, in fact it was decided they shared it. It wasnt about a money fight in court, it came down to a judges decision after hearing much more evidence than anyone here has heard.

Of course, this generation whining about intelectual property rights does not surprise me. I need only look at all the illegally shared software / music / movies (not pointing fingers at individuals) to understand the lack of respect, currently, in America for intelectual property rights.

[craltal]

OK, let's see who-else is like Smart Parts...

Microsoft (Stole the GUI fro Apple who stole it from Xerox) - How many of you use Windows?
Apple (Stole the GUI from Xerox) - How many of you have an iPod?

Microsoft tried to make an operating system for Apple to use that they didn't end up using. When Apple rejected it, Microsoft turned around and based Windows on it without permission from Apple. This resulted in the lawsuit that Apple won.

I don't know what you are talking about regarding Xerox.

[Hexis]

I don't know what you are talking about regarding Xerox.

Then you need to read up on the history of the GUI. Check out the Xerox PARC Wiki entry.

[GT]

Anyway, im just amazed at how a company could be so money hungry and people still buy their stuff? Im not telling you not to buy their stuff.. but think about it? This company caused AKA to stop making guns, for a patent that they didnt even create (from information that is stated).

AKA can still make guns, just like dye and wdp. Since when did buisness become the feel good sport that everyone makes it out to be? You make products to make money, pure and simple. If you can slide a half-assed patent under the door of a judge and then take smaller companies to court, you win.

PB is still a young sport, maybe manufactures have learned a lesson in IP law. Patent up your stuff, document like mad, carry lots of insurance.

[craltal]

Then you need to read up on the history of the GUI. Check out the Xerox PARC Wiki entry.

"Xerox was given Apple stock in exchange for engineer visits and an understanding that Apple would create a GUI product."

I'l admit it's a bit shady, but it doesn't qualify as stealing, especially when their version tanked in the market...

As for AKA, their legal agreement (as much as has been disclosed) with SP states that they can't make any guns that use the electronic switch as an actuator.

[GT]

Of course, this generation whining about intelectual property rights does not surprise me. I need only look at all the illegally shared software / music / hardware (not pointing fingers at individuals) to understand the lack of respect, currently, in America for intelectual property rights.

ohhh now here is a gem. I think the US has the most stringent of anywhere in the world. Comparing product production to dl music are two totally different mind sets.

[Lohman446]

ohhh now here is a gem. I think the US has the most stringent of anywhere in the world. Comparing product production to dl music are two totally different mind sets.

Yeh.. it was an oops on the hardware portion of that, I meant movies to go there. They are, but I do find it interesting and would like to know how many of these people complaining SP "stole" this patent, also have illegal software on there systems. I think that WDP and SP fought long enough in court that had there been an issue as blatantly obvious as some of the posters on this board want to think that ti would have been found by the court.

[Hexis]

I think you are confusing Copyright issues with Patent issues. They are very different beasts.

[Lohman446]

I think you are confusing Copyright issues with Patent issues. They are very different beasts.

To some degree. Both fall under the broader label of intellectual property which is really the label I used to consider them. How is a disregard for one intelectual property (patent rights) that much different than a disregard for another intellectual property (copyright). I don't think it is a surprise that some of the same people who complain about SP protecting a patent that they have may also justify software piracy.

[Hexis]

I think that when you start crossing boundries into differeent aspects of IP, things start to get muddy pretty quickly. Toss Trademark in there too. Using the same logic anyone who has a "Level 10 Inside" sticker must not care about IP as well.

The Copyright side of IP, and how it relates to normal consumers is a big complex issue. Patent law is also a big complex issue. Neither one can be simply summed up as Pro-IP or Con-IP.