Implicit Networks sues... everyone

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 21st February 2008
Comments (23) Stumble
The patent covers data conversion as performed by pretty much every modern multimedia system.

The patent covers data conversion as performed by pretty much every modern multimedia system.

Intel, AMD, and NVidia are among the companies currently being sued by a company called Implicit Networks which claims a whole raft of tech firms owe it a substantial sum of money.

The company is claiming that various firms associated with semiconductor and network technologies – Intel, AMD, NVidia, Sun, Real Networks, and Raza Microelectronics to name them all – have infringed a patent it holds for “Methods and System for Demultiplexing a First Sequence of Packet Components to Identify Specific Components Wherein Subsequent Components are Processed without Re-identifying Components.”

The patent, United States Patent 6629163, is described in the abstract as being for passing received data through “message handlers” which convert the data into a “target data type.” Which sounds to me like the initial companies listed in the litigation could just be the start of Implicit's suing spree.

The claims are that the patent is substantially infringed by Intel's Viiv technology, AMD's ATI graphics technologies, Nvidia's nStant Media software, Sun's Java Media Framework, Real's Helix DNA package, and Raza's Alchemy portable media player designs.

If successful in their bid to bilk the companies for all that they're worth – and if any Implicit Networks lawyers are reading, I'm kidding here – then we can be sure that no company producing media handling software or hardware will be safe. Although the roster of current targets is impressive, I can think of two other companies of the top of my head who would also infringe the patent if found valid – perhaps Steve and Bill are just too scary to face in the courtroom?

Another patent troll, or do you think Implicit stands a chance of getting some cash out of all this? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote CrixD 21st February 2008, 09:15
This is Madness! [Sparta quote :O]
Quote steveo_mcg 21st February 2008, 09:19
I honestly can't see them winning this, each of those companies has enough money to a small firm tied up in tape in the glacial court system for years. I don't get why they haven't gone after apple, if from the article you imply they could also be infringing, surely apple is a smaller fruit than Intel.
Quote Eloquence 21st February 2008, 09:37
Sure, Apple may be smaller, but have you seen Apple's most recent reports and the billions they're making? They'd easily be able to tie them up in the legal system for an indefinite amount of time.
Quote DXR_13KE 21st February 2008, 09:43
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrixD
This is Madness! [Sparta quote :O]

madness? THIS... IS...... IMMMMPLIIIIIICIIIIIIIIIT!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111elevenone

as for the news..... i hate patent trolls.....
Quote cjoyce1980 21st February 2008, 09:54
sounds like there are actual after the hardware manufactures, and apply dont make any hardware, they just buy in.

but i'm sure this little company with be rich after this and then license this to everyman and his dog
Quote DXR_13KE 21st February 2008, 10:15
Quote:
Originally Posted by cjoyce1980
but i'm sure this little company with be rich after this and then license this to everyman and his dog

or be submerged in paper for the next 1000 years....
Quote David_Fitzy 21st February 2008, 10:38
this is making news writers job easy standard patent claim fill in the blanks. Every small company ever must be scraping through every patent they've ever had in the desperate attempt to make a quick buck.

___________is suing __________ and ____________ over a patent detailing ________________________________ they have requested the courts order __________________
Quote David_Fitzy 21st February 2008, 10:38
btw that form is patent pending so if you use it bit-tech i'll sue :p
Quote naokaji 21st February 2008, 10:51
and i claim to have a patent on double posting, so i'll sue too.../sarcasm off

if they could actually win they would end up rich, but its like prince trying to win against the internet, impossible.
Quote theevilelephant 21st February 2008, 11:51
how can they think they are gonna win...... whenever someone sues this many BIG companies, its gonna b a nightmare for them. Even if they do win surely by allowing these companies to be sued the judge is setting a precedant for others.
Quote [USRF]Obiwan 21st February 2008, 12:15
With my current patent pending patent, I really could sue anyone...

Patent short:
Getting from any non particulary point to any non particulary point.

Patent description:
Getting from a non particulary point-A (point-A= description of anything,anyone and every possibility imaginable) to another/same non particulary point-B (point-B= all other destinations started from point-A, this can also be point-A to point-A or visaversa anything, anyone and every possibility imaginable) . Travel can be done by person/animal or any other thing. be it on foot, running, speech, driving verhicles of any kind or using anything that could be used to travel someting/someone through, wires, coper, pipes, bricks, fiber,s stones, water, oil and other liquids, Air, radio frequency, atomic particals, sub-atomic particals, planets, galaxys, wind, rain, earth, dust, microwaves, gamawaves or any other natural or artifictial way of moving from a non particulary point-A (point-A= description of anything,anyone and every possibility imaginable) to another/same non particulary point-B (point-B= all other destinations started from point-A, this can also be point-A to point-A or visaversa anything, anyone and every possibility imaginable)
Quote Delphium 21st February 2008, 13:49
By the powers vested in me by the readers of the daily star, I pronounce Implicit Networks a patent troll.

What do we do with patent trolls?... Burn them!!!

In a wicker man?.. OH YES!!!


Quote:
Originally Posted by [USRF]Obiwan
With my current patent pending patent, I really could sue anyone...

Patent short:
Getting from any non particulary point to any non particulary point.

Patent description:
Getting from a non particulary point-A (point-A= description of anything,anyone and every possibility imaginable) to another/same non particulary point-B (point-B= all other destinations started from point-A, this can also be point-A to point-A or visaversa anything, anyone and every possibility imaginable) . Travel can be done by person/animal or any other thing. be it on foot, running, speech, driving verhicles of any kind or using anything that could be used to travel someting/someone through, wires, coper, pipes, bricks, fiber,s stones, water, oil and other liquids, Air, radio frequency, atomic particals, sub-atomic particals, planets, galaxys, wind, rain, earth, dust, microwaves, gamawaves or any other natural or artifictial way of moving from a non particulary point-A (point-A= description of anything,anyone and every possibility imaginable) to another/same non particulary point-B (point-B= all other destinations started from point-A, this can also be point-A to point-A or visaversa anything, anyone and every possibility imaginable)

Ouch, my head hurts!
Quote Cabe 21st February 2008, 13:58
I'm pretty sure people were doing this before 1999 (patent filing date) so I would go with prior art.
Quote ToMMo 21st February 2008, 14:12
imo these shenanigans are absolute jokes. However surely these massive companies actually check they aren't infringing patents b4 proceeding with production?
Quote Firehed 21st February 2008, 14:39
Kill the patent troll.
Quote Herbicide 21st February 2008, 15:43
Patent trolls... Nuke 'em from orbit; it's the only way to be sure.
Quote chrisb2e9 21st February 2008, 15:50
they should just have them assinated. I sure they can afford it.
Of course if they do that, then I expect to be compensated for my idea.
Quote airchie 21st February 2008, 19:37
lmao @ herb!! :D
Quote 1ad7 21st February 2008, 21:43
were about to see if this patent troll can deep throat a legal pad... should be fun! maybe it will force all of these companys to work together, and fall in corporation love and take out Bill, not that lucky :(
Quote Anakha 21st February 2008, 23:10
I've got patent pending on "Assisting friction-free motion with one or more fixed or positionable cylindrical bearings", and will be suing everyone everywhere.
Quote Goos!e 22nd February 2008, 20:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by ToMMo
imo these shenanigans are absolute jokes. However surely these massive companies actually check they aren't infringing patents b4 proceeding with production?

Hmm im not soooo technical but.. i gues its liek the same with webdesign? if a customer comes to ya and says i want it to look like this n that... (in technical terms: this thing should be able to do that) and you set 2 peeps on the page design.. im pretty sure they both will come up with very similar ideas and designs... so wich one is infringing?
hope i tried to express myself clear :(
Point being: I didnt get what they are whining about... demultiplexing wtF? but couldn't it be possible that the companys being sued kinda invented the crap theirselves? as i said i have no clue about this "deep techy" stuff..

Ya prolly have to be careful when ya go in a guitar-shop nowadays.. pick up one and just test it and swing a tune.. that a riaa goon will pop up and sue ya for unlawful spreading metallica tunes to the public (sorry for off topic)

What i also don't quite get is: IF!!!! They win... and all companys have to pay em like whatever... that would be like a 1 time deal no?..
If I!!! would be smart enough to invent something...wich is pretty much usable too..wouldn't i try to team up with whatever company and earn money WITH them? just the way i see it...
Quote Cthippo 23rd February 2008, 04:55
Sounds like packet sniffing, doesn't it?
Quote DXR_13KE 24th February 2008, 16:20
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cthippo
Sounds like packet sniffing, doesn't it?

substitute packet with drugs and you get what Implicit wants....
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