Another Sony Payout

Windle · 19 Nov 2008 at 23:55

This time they are forking out $18.5 Million to Agere Systems for a patent violation on a "wireless local area network apparatus" included in Sony handheld devices including the PSP.

Apparently the law suit from a few months ago where some idiots are filing against multiple companies for a patent breach is still hanging around too. This being the patent which covers a muzzy and hazy description of all optical media burning, copying and reading.

Small change really for Sony. Lawsuits aren't exactly a new thing for them but it's still gotta sting!

Sauce: http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56003

manic111 · 20 Nov 2008 at 12:02

I reckon someone with more brains than me could make a living out of inventing things, waiting for Sony to steal them, and then suing.

Reebro · 20 Nov 2008 at 15:59

manic111 said:
I reckon someone with more brains than me could make a living out of inventing things, waiting for Sony to steal them, and then suing.

+1

And yes, nothing new from Sony and as you said small change.

Adsta · 20 Nov 2008 at 16:22

Windle said:
Sauce: http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/56003

SAUCE !!!

Poor Sony I almost feel for them....... sadly not enough to care.

Surely this would have been something the design team of the psp would have looked into BEFORE release.

orderoftheflame · 20 Nov 2008 at 16:24

I'm more wondering how it's taken three iterations of the PSP for "Agere Systems" to realise it's copied their patent...

msmalls74 · 20 Nov 2008 at 17:04

Its just a common thing nowdays for companys to patent stuff and wait until they can go to court sue random comapny and hoping it sticks. It seems like a daily thing for companies such as Sony and Microsoft to be sued now.

Tobes · 20 Nov 2008 at 17:12

msmalls74 said:
Its just a common thing nowdays for companys to patent stuff and wait until they can go to court sue random comapny and hoping it sticks. It seems like a daily thing for companies such as Sony and Microsoft to be sued now.

The thing is unless they are using their patent or sold the rights to someone then they will normally loose.

You can't go inventing things and then not use your invention and the courts know that.

Plus in the end, is Sony.. MS or whoever get sued... what's the point. Why didn't they just pay the royalties in the first place. Sony knew there was a patent for it and disregarded it. While it may be short change to Sony, it just ends up looking bad for them.