News Stories

[SaintessHeart]

Koreans Vow New Attacks on 2ch as FBI Begins Hunt

Stupid is what stupid does. Naturally.

But the funniest thing are still the first 3 comments made on Sankaku....



Talking about stupid....

Apple Sues Maker of Google Phone

By ROGER CHENG And NICK WINGFIELD

Apple Inc. launched a legal broadside against a key Google Inc. partner in the cellphone market, the latest sign of the escalating tensions between the two Silicon Valley companies.

Nick Wingfield and Peter Kafka discuss Apple's suit against HTC which makes several Google Inc.-based smart phones, saying the cellphone maker is infringing on 20 patents related to its popular iPhone.


Apple alleged numerous patent violations in lawsuits against HTC Corp., a Taiwan-based manufacturer of smart phones. HTC makes several phones that run Google's Android operating system, including the Nexus One phone that Google is selling directly to consumers.

Apple's two complaints—filed Tuesday in federal court in Delaware and the U.S. International Trade Commission—allege HTC devices, including the Nexus One, infringe a total of 20 Apple patents. The complaints claim the patents cover an array of cellphone technologies, everything from power-management functions to a method of unlocking a handset with a finger swipe on a touch screen.

"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in a prepared statement. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

An HTC spokesman said the company is still reviewing the complaints. "HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations," said spokesman Keith Novak.
Journal Community

A Google spokeswoman said that, while the company was not a party in the lawsuit, the company "stands behind our Android operating system and the partners who have helped us to develop it." Apple declined to comment on whether the suit was aimed at Google.

Apple's share of global smart-phone shipments surged to 14.4% last year from nothing when it entered the market almost three years ago, according to research firm IDC. HTC, which makes smart phones that run both Android and software from Microsoft Corp., accounted for 4.6% of the market in 2009, IDC said.

The Android technology is open source, meaning other companies are free to use and modify it, but Google works closely with handset makers like HTC to help them customize it for their devices and was closely involved in the development of the Nexus One.

Android is gaining broad support from handset makers, including Samsung Electronics Co. and Motorola Inc.

While Google and other Android manufacturers weren't named as a defendants in Apple's suits, the legal challenges could be a way for Apple to rattle handset makers that are considering using the software, lawyers said.

"HTC seems to be a getting a lot of [attention] in this space," said Mark Kesslen, a patent attorney at Lowenstein Sandler PC, adding the lawsuits against HTC are "a way to slow it down."

HTC Chief Financial Officer Hui-Ming Cheng said Wednesday it is too early to say whether the Apple allegations will have a material impact on the company's operations. "Our legal counsel is still studying the matter, and we're still trying to understand the details of the case," Mr. Cheng said. He confirmed that Apple has accused HTC of violating 20 patents in total, but declined to say which of its handset models use these patents.

While HTC also makes phones based on an operating system from Microsoft, several models of which are named in Apple's ITC complaint, the lawsuits emphasize alleged violations by HTC's Android phones. Those include high-profile models like Droid Eris, sold through Verizon Wireless.

The complaint with the ITC, a trade body, seeks to block imports of HTC devices made with the contested technology. Such disputes are increasingly common among technology companies and can take more than a year to resolve.

Apple is also in a patent dispute with cellphone company Nokia Corp.

Since when is the touchscreen smartphone a licensed technology?

[MeoTwister5]

I wouldn't be surprised if the US pulled out their troops and the NKs walk across the border. As the Sankaku posters say, perhaps banning SK IPs from Battle.net might be punishment enough.

NUCLEAR LAUNCH DETECTED!

[Tsuyoshi]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Since when is the touchscreen smartphone a licensed technology?

Touchscreen technology existed long before Apple made the iPhone. Who'se gonna sue Apple now?

[chikorita157]

Originally Posted by Vexx

And innovation came to a halt because every idea was patented... sorry but the meaning and scope of patent law is rapidly moving towards total gridlock and the annihilation of competition.

I can't roll my eyes any harder lately....

After seeing Nokia vs Apple and Kodak vs Apple and RIM, I think there really needs to be patent reform. Sure, you want to protect an idea, but there are companies who patent ideas and never used the patent. When someone uses the patent they don't use, they sue for money. They are known as patent trolls and that can be seen as a reason why the patent system in the US is broken. I'm sure that it won't happen in other countries... or is it?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by chikorita157

After seeing Nokia vs Apple and Kodak vs Apple and RIM, I think there really needs to be patent reform. Sure, you want to protect an idea, but there are companies who patent ideas and never used the patent. When someone uses the patent they don't use, they sue for money. They are known as patent trolls and that can be seen as a reason why the patent system in the US is broken. I'm sure that it won't happen in other countries... or is it?

I don't think it is broken, you can't license a generic piece of technology. Similarly, you can license your brand of PCs, but you can't license the PC. It is anti-competitive.

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

I wouldn't be surprised if the US pulled out their troops and the NKs walk across the border. As the Sankaku posters say, perhaps banning SK IPs from Battle.net might be punishment enough.

NUCLEAR LAUNCH DETECTED!

I am surprised that the TechCrime Division in Singapore (CID) hasn't made a move yet because 2ch is held in Telok Ayer here under Packet Monster.

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

Touchscreen technology existed long before Apple made the iPhone. Who'se gonna sue Apple now?

Not sure. Maybe the computer company that first made touchscreens?

[chikorita157]

I don't think it is broken, you can't license a generic piece of technology. Similarly, you can license your brand of PCs, but you can't license the PC. It is anti-competitive.

If you recall to the Tivo vs Echostar lawsuit over the DVR patent, it's pretty much the same old thing. As you know, Tivo is not the only manufacture of DVRs, but others for example...

However, if these companies are granted these type of patents that is so general, it just proves that the patent system is broken since they shouldn't be granted in the first place, just like Nokia's GSM technology which is used in most cell phones.

[LynnieS]

Originally Posted by chikorita157

However, if these companies are granted these type of patents that is so general, it just proves that the patent system is broken since they shouldn't be granted in the first place, just like Nokia's GSM technology which is used in most cell phones.

I heard awhile back that the U.S. Patent Office was reviewing the process to get rid of (or reduce?) the number of patents granted to processes. Some of those granted earlier like the "One Click Buying" one were rather... unoriginal. I can understand patenting a brilliant idea that, for example, reduces the number of steps involved in making something, but patenting processes got out of hand, IMHO. What happened to that effort anyway?

CA rallies to focus on cutbacks on education

Thousands of students, teachers and parents in California and across the country are expected to stage rallies, demonstrations, walkouts and other actions Thursday to decry what they say is an assault on public education at all levels.

The so-called Day of Action is in response to education funding cuts that have affected schools nationwide, but have been especially severe in California, where public colleges and universities have canceled classes, ordered furloughs and layoffs and enacted unprecedented student fee increases.

On the one hand, you have California with its budget problems, and it can't "solve" them in the same way the U.S. can. Not to mention it has to balance its budget because of Proposition 58, spend a minimum each year on education due to Propositions 98 and 111, and so on. A tough call for those not involved in the debate, IMHO, and a worse one for those who are...

[Kamui4356]

And so Apple adds patent trolling to the list of unethical business practices. Wonder if it's too late for Xerox to sue Apple for scamming them out of the whole GUI thing.

[MeoTwister5]

Originally Posted by Kamui4356

And so Apple adds patent trolling to the list of unethical business practices. Wonder if it's too late for Xerox to sue Apple for scamming them out of the whole GUI thing.

In a bit of irony there was an ad in the local paper a few days ago of Xerox reminding people and photocopying services to refrain from using the term "xerox" to define photocopying services since xerox had become a common term for it.

[Tsuyoshi]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

In a bit of irony there was an ad in the local paper a few days ago of Xerox reminding people and photocopying services to refrain from using the term "xerox" to define photocopying services since xerox had become a common term for it.

D=!!! I've been saying xerox for too long for me to kill the habit!! T_T

[mg1942]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Koreans Vow New Attacks on 2ch as FBI Begins Hunt

FEDs may start monitoring private internet networks...

related news since they attacked a US server

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

In a bit of irony there was an ad in the local paper a few days ago of Xerox reminding people and photocopying services to refrain from using the term "xerox" to define photocopying services since xerox had become a common term for it.

They do not know what is positive branding.....to Xerox means to photocopy...this means their high industrial standard is even used by copywrite infringers!

LDP : Japan must introduce conscription!

The LDP is said to be plotting to introduce conscription to Japan, along with the necessary constitutional amendments to allow it.

The LDP is reportedly considering introducing general conscription to Japan based on a “civic duty” rubric, as used in Germany and elsewhere:

“It is necessary to further consider the matter of the people’s connection to the army and the meaning of obligating military service in a democratic nation.”

Direct mention of conscription is avoided in favour of opaque euphemism.

Japan’s military is massively constrained by the US authored pacifist constitution the nation has had since being crushed in World War II; indeed the nation technically has no army at all.

A constitutional amendment would be required to introduce conscription, which requires a national referendum amongst other legal and legislative hurdles – the LDP has long been interested in passing such an amendment, and apparently intends to announce an amendment plan in May.

Leaving aside the illiberal nature of a government enforcing military service, or how profoundly unpopular such a policy would be, the practical aspects of such a policy seem ill thought out at best – modern militaries demand highly trained and motivated specialists, usually associated with professional career soldiers.

Additionally, flooding Japan’s tiny military with school leavers would likely do nothing but exacerbate the pension time bomb Japan is singularly failing to defuse – spending money to delay young people’s entry into the labour market through unproductive trench digging and further disrupting their ability to form families with banishment to barracks seem unlikely to help.

Such questions are however academic – it seems actually getting such an amendment past the Japanese public in a vote would be challenging at the very least, and the chances of a party actually getting into power with such a policy seems even more remote.

2ch is unsparing:

Update: The politician quoted has hurriedly denied the LDP plans any conscription, saying that “we were only interested in looking at the situation in other countries, and have no plans to implement it here.”

This of course leaves open the question of why they would want to be considering such systems if they had no plans of implementing it…

Conscription isn't that bad actually. So if China invades Japan, where would be our anime and manga?

1-2 years isn't that bad. Just don't overdo it with low quality training.

[Jinto]

Originally Posted by chikorita157

If you recall to the Tivo vs Echostar lawsuit over the DVR patent, it's pretty much the same old thing. As you know, Tivo is not the only manufacture of DVRs, but others for example...

However, if these companies are granted these type of patents that is so general, it just proves that the patent system is broken since they shouldn't be granted in the first place, just like Nokia's GSM technology which is used in most cell phones.

The real problem is giving out gazillions of patents for micro solutions. Add to this embargo restrictions and that patents may not apply in all countries... and you have the mess corporations have to deal with these days when they want to develop something. It costs increasingly more money to ensure, that a product does not breach patent laws, embargo laws or national norms.
The whole patent system begins to generate more costs because of bureaucracy then actual patent fees. Most companies calculate a certain portion of the gross profit margin of a product for possible patent disputes. Knowing they won't be able to verify their product does 100% not breach (in part) any of the gazillion patents (micro solutions).

[Nosauz]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

They do not know what is positive branding.....to Xerox means to photocopy...this means their high industrial standard is even used by copywrite infringers!

LDP : Japan must introduce conscription!



Conscription isn't that bad actually. So if China invades Japan, where would be our anime and manga?

1-2 years isn't that bad. Just don't overdo it with low quality training.

Really if you take Artefact's "reporting" you'd think that china would be gearing to invade the world. Also theres a reason why most asian countries are worried about japan's imperial tendencies.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Nosauz

Really if you take Artefact's "reporting" you'd think that china would be gearing to invade the world. Also theres a reason why most asian countries are worried about japan's imperial tendencies.

Japan already took over most of the literate world with a psychological weapon named "moe".

Besides, talking about China, their rise is quite disturbing. If you are an Asian that is.

[mg1942]

[Kamui4356]

Is that a yaoi manga at about 50 seconds in?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Kamui4356

Is that a yaoi manga at about 50 seconds in?

Yes. Two of my waifus would LOVE that.

[Nosauz]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Japan already took over most of the literate world with a psychological weapon named "moe".

Besides, talking about China, their rise is quite disturbing. If you are an Asian that is.

Not really, but the fear mongering west would be pushing this notion. It's pretty much established that China just wants to maintain land that has traditionally been Chinese, like say tibet, or taiwan, which have been part of the chinese empire ever since Shi huang di united all of china, it's not so farfetched for a country to want to maintain the borders that were established from the rich history that most chinese are quite in love with. It's why there are the swiss alps and the french alps because those borders were ordained by traiditonal segregation due to the churchs power.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Since when is the touchscreen smartphone a licensed technology?

I'm pretty sure the iPhone isn't the first touchscreen iPhone, so no, they can't patent it. They can, however, patent bits and pieces of it - maybe too much. There are supposed to be restrictions on that sort of thing, but they're subjective, and Apple can afford lots of lawyers.

Originally Posted by chikorita157

After seeing Nokia vs Apple and Kodak vs Apple and RIM, I think there really needs to be patent reform. Sure, you want to protect an idea, but there are companies who patent ideas and never used the patent. When someone uses the patent they don't use, they sue for money. They are known as patent trolls and that can be seen as a reason why the patent system in the US is broken. I'm sure that it won't happen in other countries... or is it?

I think, for that sort of things, patent law is pretty similar everywhere. (Conditions of attribution are a bit different in Europe, but the rights patents give you aren't.)

In France, there's the added bit that you can't buy a license and not use it for X years, but all it means is that the rights revert to the patent holder. If you're it, you can forbid everyone to use the tech for as long as the patent holds. In theory, there are circumstances where the government will force you to license it, but again... subjectivity + lawyers.