PJ's in a snit

[Rjack]

PJ over at Groklaw has gotten her panties tied into a knot over the
Microsoft - TomTom patent dispute.

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20090304114657350

Seems everybody's in a snit because "Microsoft is attacking Linux".
As I surf the net I see Free Softies everywhere whining about
TomTom not being able to license Microsoft patents because of the
GPL. What baffles me is why there isn't a peep out there about
TomTom suing the pants off other navigation system manufacturers for
violating TomTom's patents.

***********************************************************
TomTom Sues Aisin

Dutch navigation device maker TomTom Global Assets BV reportedly has
filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Japan’s Aisin AW and its
subsidiary AW Technical Center U.S.A., according to a report by IP
Law 360. The complaint was filed in the U. S. District Court Eastern
Division of Texas Marshall Division. According to the complaint,
TomTom reportedly alleges that Aisin AW and AW Tech infringe four
U.S. patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,508,931; 5,515,283; 5,902,350; and
6,542,814) for car navigation systems and displays. TomTom is
reportedly asserting that Aisin infringed the patents willfully and
is seeking reasonable royalties, damages, interest, and legal costs.
The company is also asking for an injunction. Aisin is a member of
the Toyota group of companies. Aisin’s navigation systems are used
in automobiles manufactured by Toyota, Scion, Audi, and GM in North
America.
***********************************************************

http://www.gbpatent.com/news/jp92.htm

See also:

http://www.setexasrecord.com/news/208264-recent-patentcopyright-infringement-cases-filed-in-u.s.-district-courts

Sounds a little like Rush Limbaugh whining about "personal attacks"
to me. The word "hypocrisy" apparently doesn't exist in Free Softies
vocabularies.

Sincerely,
Rjack :)

[RonB]

Post by Rjack
PJ over at Groklaw has gotten her panties tied into a knot over the
Microsoft - TomTom patent dispute.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20090304114657350
Seems everybody's in a snit because "Microsoft is attacking Linux".
As I surf the net I see Free Softies everywhere whining about
TomTom not being able to license Microsoft patents because of the
GPL. What baffles me is why there isn't a peep out there about
TomTom suing the pants off other navigation system manufacturers for
violating TomTom's patents.
***********************************************************
TomTom Sues Aisin
Dutch navigation device maker TomTom Global Assets BV reportedly has
filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Japan’s Aisin AW and its
subsidiary AW Technical Center U.S.A., according to a report by IP
Law 360. The complaint was filed in the U. S. District Court Eastern
Division of Texas Marshall Division. According to the complaint,
TomTom reportedly alleges that Aisin AW and AW Tech infringe four
U.S. patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,508,931; 5,515,283; 5,902,350; and
6,542,814) for car navigation systems and displays. TomTom is
reportedly asserting that Aisin infringed the patents willfully and
is seeking reasonable royalties, damages, interest, and legal costs.
The company is also asking for an injunction. Aisin is a member of
the Toyota group of companies. Aisin’s navigation systems are used
in automobiles manufactured by Toyota, Scion, Audi, and GM in North
America.
***********************************************************
http://www.gbpatent.com/news/jp92.htm
http://www.setexasrecord.com/news/208264-recent-patentcopyright-infringement-cases-filed-in-u.s.-district-courts
Sounds a little like Rush Limbaugh whining about "personal attacks"
to me. The word "hypocrisy" apparently doesn't exist in Free Softies
vocabularies.
Sincerely,
Rjack :)

It appears to me that TomTom is suing for very specific issues -- how to
display exiting an off ramp on a GPS, for example -- whereas Microsoft is
suing for general concepts like "using an integrated computer in a car,"
or "having a wireless computer in a car," or using the same FAT system
everyone else in the world is using. (How did that GIF lawsuit go, by the
way?) I don't know the merits of TomTom's lawsuit against the Toyota
affiliate (and it looks like they're being counter-sued), but Microsoft's
lawsuit looks like nothing more than patent trolling.

Is this what Microsoft has been reduced to? -- a patent troll? I expect
they'll be moving their headquarters to Eastern Texas any month now.

[Rjack]

Post by RonB

Post by Rjack
PJ over at Groklaw has gotten her panties tied into a knot over
the Microsoft - TomTom patent dispute.
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20090304114657350
Seems everybody's in a snit because "Microsoft is attacking
Linux". As I surf the net I see Free Softies everywhere whining
about TomTom not being able to license Microsoft patents
because of the GPL. What baffles me is why there isn't a peep
out there about TomTom suing the pants off other navigation
system manufacturers for violating TomTom's patents.
***********************************************************
TomTom Sues Aisin
Dutch navigation device maker TomTom Global Assets BV
reportedly has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against
Japan’s Aisin AW and its subsidiary AW Technical Center
U.S.A., according to a report by IP Law 360. The complaint was
filed in the U. S. District Court Eastern Division of Texas
Marshall Division. According to the complaint, TomTom
reportedly alleges that Aisin AW and AW Tech infringe four U.S.
patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,508,931; 5,515,283; 5,902,350; and
6,542,814) for car navigation systems and displays. TomTom is
reportedly asserting that Aisin infringed the patents willfully
and is seeking reasonable royalties, damages, interest, and
legal costs. The company is also asking for an injunction.
Aisin is a member of the Toyota group of companies. Aisin’s
navigation systems are used in automobiles manufactured by
Toyota, Scion, Audi, and GM in North America.
***********************************************************
http://www.gbpatent.com/news/jp92.htm
http://www.setexasrecord.com/news/208264-recent-patentcopyright-infringement-cases-filed-in-u.s.-district-courts
Sounds a little like Rush Limbaugh whining about "personal
attacks" to me. The word "hypocrisy" apparently doesn't exist
in Free Softies vocabularies.
Sincerely, Rjack :)

It appears to me that TomTom is suing for very specific issues --
how to display exiting an off ramp on a GPS, for example --
whereas Microsoft is suing for general concepts like "using an
integrated computer in a car," or "having a wireless computer in
a car," or using the same FAT system everyone else in the world
is using. (How did that GIF lawsuit go, by the way?) I don't know
the merits of TomTom's lawsuit against the Toyota affiliate (and
it looks like they're being counter-sued), but Microsoft's
lawsuit looks like nothing more than patent trolling.

So TomTom suing over a software patent is like being just a little
bit pregnant?

Post by RonB
Is this what Microsoft has been reduced to? -- a patent troll? I
expect they'll be moving their headquarters to Eastern Texas any
month now.

I'm not defending Microsoft and software patents (I don't like
software patents) -- just pointing out the hypocrisy of TomTom
defenders.

Sincerely,
Rjack :)

[7]

Post by Rjack
I'm not defending Microsoft and software patents (I don't like
software patents) -- just pointing out the hypocrisy of TomTom
defenders.

As opposed to pointing out your own hypocracy of asstroturfing
against TomTom on behalf of big corporation like micoshaft
legioned against the GPL and freedom software?

[RonB]

Post by Rjack
So TomTom suing over a software patent is like being just a little
bit pregnant?

I guess I'm not like some folks here -- I believe that a genuinely
specific and unique idea, that has been successfully implemented, is
patentable. What I don't believe in is patenting vague concepts that can
be used to patent troll anyone. There has actually been a patent granted
for "faster than light radio."

So, if what TomTom is suing the Toyota affiliate for is actually something
specific and unique, and something they have successfully implemented,
then I don't see hypocrisy here.

[Rjack]

Post by RonB

Post by Rjack
So TomTom suing over a software patent is like being just a
little bit pregnant?

I guess I'm not like some folks here -- I believe that a
genuinely specific and unique idea, that has been successfully
implemented, is patentable. What I don't believe in is patenting
vague concepts that can be used to patent troll anyone. There has
actually been a patent granted for "faster than light radio."

What you say is true but there never seems to be a way to filter the
terrific from the trash. The Supreme Court's "anything under the
sun" dogma doesn't help. The Congress doesn't want to draw any lines
for fear of offending some interest group. Most software patents are
granted for ideas that are first expressed in code that is obvious
to a reasonable practitioner in the field. IBM once patented the
brilliant, non-obvious, unique idea of an on screen caps lock
indicator. Crap like that simply retards progress in the arts and
sciences.

So who gets to decide what is meritorious? Is it like pornography
where the patent examiner knows it when he sees it?

Post by RonB
So, if what TomTom is suing the Toyota affiliate for is actually
something specific and unique, and something they have
successfully implemented, then I don't see hypocrisy here.

[Doctor Smith]

Post by Rjack
PJ over at Groklaw has gotten her panties tied into a knot over the
Microsoft - TomTom patent dispute.
Rjack :)

Knowing a little about PJ, that knot is probably about the size of a
bowling ball.