Five PC Vendors Face Patent Lawsuit

Combuchan writes "This article from internetnews.com caught my attention: While Linux lawsuits gobble up the IT community's mindshare, a lesser-known legal action is being fought seeking billions of dollars from five PC vendors. Patriot Scientific, a small, San Diego-based seller of embedded microprocessors for automotive and scientific applications, is suing Sony, Fujitu, Matsushita, Toshiba, and NEC, alleging infringement of a Patriot patent for what it calls 'fundamental microprocessor technology.'"

Comments

This is starting to get ridiculous.

[JessLeah]

Does any company actually have a business plan that isn't based around suing people any more?

Re: This is starting to get ridiculous.

[Black Parrot]

> Does any company actually have a business plan that isn't based around suing people any more?

Yes - law firms.

Sound Familiar?

[KillerHamster]

Although Patriot has plans to move forward with its 32-bit processors and application-specific integrated circuits, Wallin said that product revenues were currently "negligible."

"Our main focus is the IP [intellectual property] business now," he said.

Gee, this really reminds me of someone... can't think of the name...

Recipe for legal victory

[filtur]

Intel should outsource their legal team to a foreign country. Just imagine a team of high priced lawyers with heavy accents all using the wookie defense! They'd unstoppable!

"Five PC Vendors"

[Anonymous Coward]

Interesting, all of the manufacturers "happened" to be major Japanese PC vendors, and they are sued by a company called "Patriot Scientific?" Is this some sort of retaliation acts for Pearl Harbor?

Re:Im in the wrong business

[Frymaster]

"First, kill all the lawyers."

smart. who's going to defend you on that murder rap then?

Re:Im in the wrong business

[vivian]

For sure. Time to give up a career as a programmer and go back to school & join the Dark Side (IP law) - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

At least they won't ship *that* job ofshore too quickly.

Re:Im in the wrong business

[nuntius]

Who's left to prosecute?

Re:GAAARGH!

[Flakeloaf]

Please examine US Patent #4,791,886, titled "Manner in which to relieve the American Judicial System from pointless lawsuits 3B", written by me. Specifically, I refer you to page 1,136 of the document which sets out the detonation of a thermonuclear device as the best way to destroy the office. I would also point out that three of the words in sentence #11 in the second paragraph also end with the letter G, just like in your post.

This is a serious infringement of my patent. Hire yourself a good lawyer buddy cause you're gonna get it.

Re:Im in the wrong business

[TheLoneDanger]

You still have to be convicted by a jury of your peers. Who's not gonna consider it justifiable homicide?

4791886

[Anonymous Coward]

Method and apparatus for restraining an animal on a vehicle

I fail to see how that relates.

Re:WHY?

[little_5_points_geek]

My 10 year old son runs Linux and codes html in a text editor, and is learning C++. I am taking away his computer, buying him a weight set and teaching him how to beat up other kids for lunch money. Then he can go to law school and become an IP Attorney. I don't want my son to be trampled by the bullies and the Idiots. If you can't fight `em join `em

aggghhh it's "lose", get it "lose"

[DrSkwid]

not loose, lose

looser