Company Sued, Loses For Not Using Patented Tech

bdcrazy writes "A man was recently awarded $1.5M in a jury trial after his hand was injured by a Ryobi table saw. The saw did not include the patented 'Saw Stop' technology that the plaintiff argued would have prevented all the problems." 60 similar cases have now been filed nationwide. TechDirt makes the argument that this jury decision is completely crazy: "If the government is going to require companies to use a patented technology, it seems that the only reasonable solution is to remove the patent on it and allow competition in the market place." If the decision stands, not only will the price of table saws go way up, but other hungry patent-holders will probably get a gleam in their eye.

Comments

he should think this through

[Trailer Trash]

By his own logic, seems he should also be liable for not buying a saw using the "Saw Stop" technology. I hope the jury sees that.

Re:he should think this through

[MightyMartian]

Anybody who knows anything about tools knows that brands like Ryobi and King are crap. Now, I've owned one or two myself (my King 4" angle grinder has lasted nearly five years so far), but I'm keenly aware that these will not perform as well as, say, a Makita, and it's likely there are functional issues.

Table saws, at the best of times, are what guys who work with power tools like to refer to as "fucking dangerous". There are ways to certainly manufacture safer saws, but no matter whether you're using some cheap $200 bargain basement table saw or a top end unit is that you never stand in front of our behind the saw blade and just as importantly if you're ripping small pieces of wood, you don't feed them in with your hands. This is a good way to keep your hands intact.

There isn't a tool that can be made safe enough to withstand an idiot.

Re:Horrible summary

[sanosuke001]

It isn't irrelevant. This is setting precedent that if a company doesn't implement a patented technology, they are liable. This would pretty much force every company to license and implement every other companies' patents or be held responsible for any negative consequences.

It might not be about software, but this isn't the "News for software nerds" and patent law is something a lot of the people at the site have strong opinions about.

Re:sounds like a safety law suit jackpot and not a

[lupis42]

But this guy knowingly purchased a Ryobi, rather than a unit with SawStop, which was probably more expensive.

Are all car manufacturers that don't implement Mercedes new radar-guided emergency braking systems now liable when drivers rear end someone?