Here we go again another lawsuit.

[anomoly40]

^What is easier, copying off of someone else and making a passing grade , or staying home and studying and passing yourself?

Screw it, They're Smart Parts, is anyone suprised?

[Pneumagger]

haha, you're telling me if smart parts doesn't sue everybody and steal their ideas they won't survive? i'm pretty sure they could keep their heads above water if they did some of their own R&D instead of taking others'.

Sometimes it's just cheaper to stand on the shoulder's of giants.

[ProblemKinder]

Sometimes it's just cheaper to stand on the shoulder's of giants.

agreed

[RogueFactor]

Exactly. No law is in place to stop people from being mean or making business savvy decisions.

Sure there is. The most notable are Anti-Trust laws(in the US, Sherman & Clayton Acts). They are the basis for current or recent lawsuits against Microsoft here in the US, lawsuits against Apple in Europe, and historically were the basis for the split-up of the Bell telephone company.

[RogueFactor]

I think a big company is more likely to pay for a concept/patentable technology, than wait it out.

This is mostly true in our current system, because a small inventor can hold onto their IP for the life of the patent without being required to manufacture it.. Should the laws be changed to require manufacturing, big companies would make calculated decision on how best to avoid paying licensing fees.

While you would think a big company is likely to pay for a concept, there are notable exceptions.

Consider Robert Kearns, the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper... http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...25/005398.html

[RogueFactor]

Ya its all pretty funny aint it? Like the Mini makers wouldnt know there is a Pat. App. for on the HES. But they can use it till its issued and you know they know who has the app in. When they all live in glass houses they shouldnt throw stones.

Funny & sad all at the same time.

[mobsterboy]

once again though, you all miss it. Its business. in every other market, things are patented up the wazoo, yet we paintballers, actually, just AO is the only people I hear complaining about business protection policies in use. They might not have been the first to use or invent it, but they are the first to patent quite a lot, and that makes their company, whether you like it or not, business savvy. Sure, you can say they might not have to in order to survive, but why take the chance? When you think in terms of the business owner, you might have a slightly more educated opinion.

PaintMagnet, what is this stealing you speak of? An idea has to be PATENTED in order to be STOLEN. Otherwise its either public use or a new idea. Suppose two companies both design a new gun, one is big, the other tiny. The tiny company would have more incentive to apply for the patent because they could then sell their design to the big company (IE: PVI to SP on the Shocker). But if the big company beat them to it, there was no stealing. I think the big thing smartparts has on their barrels is the freak back slots so that you can see what insert is in.

Pneumagger, thank you. You and Rogue are the only two in here with a level head.

[Beemer]

once again though, you all miss it. Its business. in every other market, things are patented up the wazoo, yet we paintballers, actually, just AO is the only people I hear complaining about business protection policies in use. They might not have been the first to use or invent it, but they are the first to patent quite a lot, and that makes their company, whether you like it or not, business savvy. Sure, you can say they might not have to in order to survive, but why take the chance? When you think in terms of the business owner, you might have a slightly more educated opinion.

PaintMagnet, what is this stealing you speak of? An idea has to be PATENTED in order to be STOLEN. Otherwise its either public use or a new idea. Suppose two companies both design a new gun, one is big, the other tiny. The tiny company would have more incentive to apply for the patent because they could then sell their design to the big company (IE: PVI to SP on the Shocker). But if the big company beat them to it, there was no stealing. I think the big thing smartparts has on their barrels is the freak back slots so that you can see what insert is in.

Pneumagger, thank you. You and Rogue are the only two in here with a level head.

No it isnt, its a screwed up USPTO.

No it doesnt. Example, the HES. Pat. Applied for but being used.

Thats your opinion, you could be wrong.

[mobsterboy]

No it isnt, its a screwed up USPTO.

No it doesnt. Example, the HES. Pat. Applied for but being used.

Thats your opinion, you could be wrong.

no, an opinion is "SP es teh suczxxxage"
I just see common business practices protecting the producing companies and am tired of uneducated kiddies complaining. Obviously the informed ones are under appreciated and all that was to become of this thread is a flame fest. Thanks beemer, you keep our forum so clean...

[RogueFactor]

no, an opinion is "SP es teh suczxxxage"

I thought that was fact

I just see common business practices protecting the producing companies and am tired of uneducated kiddies complaining.

Dont know about that. I dont think using a flawed patent system to claim something you dont have rights to is "common business practice". And one of the only reason SP is a "producing company" is because theyve stopped those who didnt pay them their ransom for doing so. I dont know if I would applaud SP for that.

It seems that Kee Action Sports now wont be held ransom, and is willing to challenge SP's "common business practice" in the courts. Good for KAS. Hope they follow through to the end, and dont settle by agreement. It would be better for the industry and the sport.

[mobsterboy]

I thought that was fact



Dont know about that. I dont think using a flawed patent system to claim something you dont have rights to is "common business practice". And one of the only reason SP is a "producing company" is because theyve stopped those who didnt pay them their ransom for doing so. I dont know if I would applaud SP for that.

It seems that Kee Action Sports now wont be held ransom, and is willing to challenge SP's "common business practice" in the courts. Good for KAS. Hope they follow through to the end, and dont settle by agreement. It would be better for the industry and the sport.

Oh teh noes. A company actually wants the fruits of their work in the patent industry. What next, a band wanting royalties for their song being played in movies and tv?

[Beemer]

no, an opinion is "SP es teh suczxxxage"
I just see common business practices protecting the producing companies and am tired of uneducated kiddies complaining. Obviously the informed ones are under appreciated and all that was to become of this thread is a flame fest. Thanks beemer, you keep our forum so clean...

Hmm.......no smilies? Do I detect sarcasm? Who you calling uneducated Kids?

It aint a flame fest and it wont become one.

Heres one for ya Mr. all informed. You think SP got all those extensions on the up and up?
See if you can find out who the examiner was and if there are any connections.

[Chronobreak]

Hmm.......no smilies? Do I detect sarcasm? Who you calling uneducated Kids?

It aint a flame fest and it wont become one.

Heres one for ya Mr. all informed. You think SP got all those extensions on the up and up?
See if you can find out who the examiner was and if there are any connections.

that examiner has been questionable for some time. hes also passed a few other questionable , possibly(likely) overlapping and then some patents.

its like a legal orgy...and were the ones getting....

[RogueFactor]

Oh teh noes. A company actually wants the fruits of their work in the patent industry.

Oh teh noes, Kee doesnt believe SP has rights to those fruits! And they are willing to take it to court!

SP has played the intimidation game long enough. Now NPS/Kee has the backing of a much bigger company with their recent purchase to play that game.

What next, a band wanting royalties for their song being played in movies and tv?

Case In Point - You mean like Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice baby? You think he should have gotten royalties for a rip-off of Queen's Under Pressure?

I always took your for a Vanilla Ice fan!





For those who want to read an editorial regarding the legal wranglings, here is an interesting take on it:

http://www.68caliber.com/features/editorials/story042259.php

[ProblemKinder]

Oh teh noes. A company actually wants the fruits of their work in the patent industry. What next, a band wanting royalties for their song being played in movies and tv?

Fruits of what work?