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E-Pass Can Resue Patent Case Against Palm

Posted by timothy on from the springtime-for-hitler-as-a-patent-case dept.

kisrael writes "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled that a patent held by E-Pass may have been infringed by Palm and other PDA makers even though their devices are larger than 'credit-card sized.' The 1994 patent describes a 'multifunction, credit card-sized computer that allows users to securely store a multitude of account numbers, PIN codes, access information and other data from multiple credit cards, check cards, identification cards and similar personal documents.'"

4 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Umm...hello? by Xenna · · Score: -1, Redundant

    You beat me to that, I was going to say the exact same thing. ;-)

  2. That's so broad by Tidal+Flame · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I can't believe they let them patent that in the first place - it's so broad. Can I go out and patent everything related to x? That'd be a nice way to make some quick cash.

  3. Re:Umm...hello? by gustaffo · · Score: 0, Redundant

    One would think a piece of paper would be prior art in this case. :) Or maybe a post-it pad with only a few pieces of paper (to be credit card sized). Just another reason why patents and "IP" need to be done away with.

  4. There go laptops too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    If the size doesn't matter for "credit card sized", then don't laptops also infringe? How about a desktop with a UPS (it runs on batteries, too)? Or how about just a desktop plugged into the wall? Or a mainframe?