Chip Firm Hit By 45-Year-Old Patent

JPMH writes "The Register is reporting that a Taiwanese chip foundry is being sued over two chemistry patents, one over 45 years old. The patents at issue were filed in 1957 and 1964, but are still in force because they were not granted until 1987 and 1992 respectively. The first patent, 4,702,808, details an apparatus and method for initiating chemical reactions by focusing "radiant energy, such as a laser" onto streams of particles. The second patent, 5,131,941 also details an apparatus and method for initiating chemical reactions, but this time radiation is used to provide the energy kick needed to get the compounds to interact."

Comments

trying to kill off imports of chips?

[burgerman]

With the Korean chip maker Hynix and this story now from Taiwan, seems like someone is trying to kill those dudes from making anything...

Patents

[Zarxos]

You know, you can make a lot of money off of patents. I know that was a story just a little while ago here on ./, but I just heard the other day that one of my grandpa's friends sold a patent to a big company back in the 20's and got tons of money for it. Just goes to show you that if you get lucky you don't necessarily have to work for your money. :)

Yes, but...

[spakatak]

Does anyone know whether its legal to sell intelectual property on ebay?

Re:wrong patent number

[ajs318]

What is this thing about sliced bread?

Anyone who has ever tasted home-baked bread, or even bread bought from the instore bakery, knows that store-bought sliced bread is absolutely minging.

There are a great many things better than sliced bread. {Of course, by baking my own bread at home I'm probably commiting some kind of theft, since I am depriving the bakeries of an opportunity to sell me a loaf.}