Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Unfortunately, first to invent is not that simple.

If someone comes along and patents the formula to Coca-Cola without having any knowledge of Coke's trade secret, there is very little Coke can do about it even though they were first to invent.

It actually is that simple, as long as you can prove that you were first to invent. In your scenario, Coke would have no problem invalidating the patent.
 
Unfortunately, first to invent is not that simple.

If someone comes along and patents the formula to Coca-Cola without having any knowledge of Coke's trade secret, there is very little Coke can do about it even though they were first to invent.


Misleading. Remember 35 USC 102(a). If the formula is "known" or "used" in the U.S., the person who comes along later is not entitled to the patent. If you are not first to invent, you can't get a patent, even if the first inventor did not file for a patent.

There is also a requirement on diligent reduction to practice. You can't come up with an idea, leave it unused in a drawer for 10 years and then come back to say you were first to invent when someone else comes up with the same idea and files a patent application.

Again, misleading, though that's only because "invent" sometimes means "conception" and sometimes means "conception" plus "reduction to practice." But, in any event, all this points out is that it's not always clear when i've invented something - is it when I thought of the general idea? or when I've gotten it to the point of commercial practicality? something in between?

Also if you invent a better mousetrap, and reduce it to practice (i.e. manufacture and sell them) without applying for patent, the offer for sale of the better mousetrap becomes a public disclosure of the idea. At that point there is nothing you can do to stop someone else from making and selling a similar mousetrap outside the US. In the US, because of the first to invent system, you have 12 months from that public disclosure to file a patent application (which at that point would only be able to cover make, use or sale in the US), but after that you are done if you did not file any paperwork. The idea becomes free for anyone to practice if it is disclosed without any of the patent paperwork.

All this to say that the paperwork is still important.

B

You just proved my point that paperwork is NOT important. Yes, I am on-sale barred, but the point is that the later person, no matter how many papers he files, can't get a patent on it either. My point was that to protect MY rights to PRACTICE MY invention, I do not have to file any papers. All that filing papers can do is prevent OTHERS from practicing the invention. This is a very important distinction when people are suggesting that they can be prevented from practicing their own invention "merely because someone else files papers first." As you know, that's untrue both because it doesn't matter in what order the papers are filed , and, more importantly, if I was doing it before you "invented" it, you can't patent it.

It actually is that simple, as long as you can prove that you were first to invent. In your scenario, Coke would have no problem invalidating the patent.

Exactly. If somebody got a patent on it and tried to exclude Coke by suing them from infringing, Coke would just have to show that it was publicly using the formula (by selling COke to the public) prior to the alleged conception date of the after-inventor.
 
Apple has had enough problems with snow leopard anyway. Guest account bug anyone? ;]

Also, as far as I know, it isn't the Microsoft's job to make sure hardware is compatible with Windows; it's the manufacturer's. They just release APIs and guidelines and all that for companies to follow.

But people will blame it on Windows anyway :rolleyes:

*BSODs with an nvidia driver as culprit*
*goes on to blog about how terrible windblows is and never think about how it might just be nvidia who is at fault*

That's part of the problem with the Microsoft/PC market, from an end users perspective, in that it's not entirely clear whose fault it is. As a customer, you just want the stupid thing to work and when it doesn't, you don't want a bunch of different vendors pointing the finger at each other. That is a large part of the Apple story, "you have a problem, you come to us".

As for Microsoft getting the blame, well, in some ways it still is partially their fault. The architecture of Windows puts a HUGE amount of code in the video driver. While this increases performance, it also increases the odds that any particular card manufacturer can create problematic drivers that will have wide systemic effects on the OS. They may have had many valid reasons to design things this way, but the problem you mentioned with nVidia (and plenty of others) simply points out a design weakness in the OS.
 
My point was that to protect MY rights to PRACTICE MY invention

You keep emphasizing YOUR rights, and as of yet, have failed to justify them. You argue as if these rights are self-evident, and are therefore defensible prima facie.

This is despite the fact that I've opened significant questions regarding your right to claim ownership over your ideas. Simply discounting dissenting opinion and re-asserting your position is nothing more than argument from repetition, and adds nothing to the debate.

You seem to believe pretty strongly in intellectual property rights, but have admitted you have no philosophical justification for those rights. You have presented conflicting views for the basis of rights, and have neglected to respond to my criticism as such.

If we wade through all the minutia, your argument really only has two points:

1. I'm right because the law says I am; and
2. I'm right because I say I am.

... which is really amongst the weakest argument structure you could throw at just about anything.
 
You keep emphasizing YOUR rights, and as of yet, have failed to justify them. You argue as if these rights are self-evident, and are therefore defensible prima facie.

This is despite the fact that I've opened significant questions regarding your right to claim ownership over your ideas. Simply discounting dissenting opinion and re-asserting your position is nothing more than argument from repetition, and adds nothing to the debate.

You seem to believe pretty strongly in intellectual property rights, but have admitted you have no philosophical justification for those rights. You have presented conflicting views for the basis of rights, and have neglected to respond to my criticism as such.

If we wade through all the minutia, your argument really only has two points:

1. I'm right because the law says I am; and
2. I'm right because I say I am.

... which is really amongst the weakest argument structure you could throw at just about anything.

FWIW you seem to be making an argument that no one in this thread is participating in. Even the direct responses are simply historical and legal arguments, and not the philosophical justification of rights that you are looking for.

Mainly because there is no philosophical justification of any rights. :D
 
You keep emphasizing YOUR rights, and as of yet, have failed to justify them. You argue as if these rights are self-evident, and are therefore defensible prima facie.

This is despite the fact that I've opened significant questions regarding your right to claim ownership over your ideas. Simply discounting dissenting opinion and re-asserting your position is nothing more than argument from repetition, and adds nothing to the debate.

You seem to believe pretty strongly in intellectual property rights, but have admitted you have no philosophical justification for those rights. You have presented conflicting views for the basis of rights, and have neglected to respond to my criticism as such.

If we wade through all the minutia, your argument really only has two points:

1. I'm right because the law says I am; and
2. I'm right because I say I am.

... which is really amongst the weakest argument structure you could throw at just about anything.

I'm not saying what's right and wrong, because unlike you, I don't believe that's my job. I'm just saying what is, and arguing that a world without IP rights is probably not a better place, anymore than a world without physical property rights is a better place. I don't agree with your characterization of my argument, and since my argument is in black and white for anyone to read, I'll let them decide. I don't care if I convince you. You seem to need to be "right."
 
I don't agree with the judgement... Apple is all pissed because someone found a cheaper way to sell their software. I kind of wish Apple was like MS (I'm gonna get killed for this one) and would open their software up to other hardware companies and give consumers some more options.

Apple uses software to sell hardware. That's why it so cheap. If they were to sell software to run on peoples hardware, then it would become significantly more expensive to purchase.
 
It actually is that simple, as long as you can prove that you were first to invent. In your scenario, Coke would have no problem invalidating the patent.

Misleading. Remember 35 USC 102(a). If the formula is "known" or "used" in the U.S., the person who comes along later is not entitled to the patent. If you are not first to invent, you can't get a patent, even if the first inventor did not file for a patent.

I should have been clearer. Obtaining the patent is all I was talking about. Making it worth anything or have it hold up in court is much harder as you guys have pointed out.

In the case of a trade secret or unpatented on-sale item the PTO has no reason to know of the prior invention and should grant a patent if all the other requirements of patentability are met. Once the patent is issued, it benefits from an assumption of validity, and invalidating it can be a long expensive process, because it will usually fall to the courts and not the PTO.

The law may be on your side, but proving that can easily bankrupt a small company,

Participating in the process (i.e. doing the paperwork) helps to avoid this by putting your inventions in front of the examiners when they are looking at your competitor's inventions and thus having to invalidate issued patents in the courts.

B
 
I should have been clearer. Obtaining the patent is all I was talking about. Making it worth anything or have it hold up in court is much harder as you guys have pointed out.

In the case of a trade secret or unpatented on-sale item the PTO has no reason to know of the prior invention and should grant a patent if all the other requirements of patentability are met. Once the patent is issued, it benefits from an assumption of validity, and invalidating it can be a long expensive process, because it will usually fall to the courts and not the PTO.

The law may be on your side, but proving that can easily bankrupt a small company,

Participating in the process (i.e. doing the paperwork) helps to avoid this by putting your inventions in front of the examiners when they are looking at your competitor's inventions and thus having to invalidate issued patents in the courts.

B

All true, but in your example, suing Coke would mean asserting that the prior art is infringing. Since the allegedly infringing product pre-dates the conception date, there would be little expense involved in invalidating the patent (or at least in getting a summary judgment of non-infringement - because, of course, if Coke infringes, it also invalidates).
 
Buzz Bumble said:
Don't bet on it. Greedy scum like that will no doubt file more counter-suits and appeals.
I sincerely doubt it. In an interview, the owner of Psystar said he's spent near $100k on attorneys. Eventually, you have to cut your losses and move on.

True, except it takes a while for the greedy idiots to stop seeing dollar signs ... they hope that "when" they win Apple will be forced to pay the legal costs.

But the main point is still valid. Just like with POWER COMPUTING in the 90's, other companies make similar hardware and charge FAR LESS than Apple.

So what?!?!?

Ford make cheaper cars then Ferrari, and Daihatsu make even cheaper cars ... nobody says you must buy the Ferrari. :rolleyes:

Besides which, it is not "far less", and you usually get what you pay for. Pay peanuts to the elephants and you'll get dung.

*LTD* said:
The English language did not originate in America.
True. It was just perfected here :)

You mis-spelled "perverted", but then Americans are always mis-spelling English words. ;)
 
True, except it takes a while for the greedy idiots to stop seeing dollar signs ... they hope that "when" they win Apple will be forced to pay the legal costs.

I assume you mean attorneys's fees and not costs. And they would certainly know that there is almost no chance of that in a copyright case when they represent the defendants.

So what?!?!?

Ford make cheaper cars then Ferrari, and Daihatsu make even cheaper cars ... nobody says you must buy the Ferrari. :rolleyes:

Besides which, it is not "far less", and you usually get what you pay for. Pay peanuts to the elephants and you'll get dung.

Plus Power computing didn't have to pay for the R&D that Apple had to pay for. Power Computing used an Apple-designed OS, and Apple-designed ROM, Apple-designed ASICs, etc. Apple didn't pass the real costs onto the clonemakers because, at the time, they wanted the clonemakers to succeed.
 
Your claim was "Most people on this site have violated the EULA in some way, form, or fashion I would bet." Most people do not fit any of the examples that you have listed.



Because Apple is not a monopoly in the personal computer or OS markets.



The fact that they lost this judgment has nothing to do with them screwing up how they went about the court case. There is no way for them to win because what they are doing is illegal.

Thank you. Once again, someone has had to state the obvious. Glad it didn't have to be me this time. ;)
 
Detailed analysis of the summary judgment against Psystar

http://obamapacman.com/2009/11/cour...case-apple-wins-summary-judgement-highlights/

Covering these issues:
- Overview: Latest Development
- Court Case History
- Background / Apple as free R&D? / Mac Costs Myth
- Case: Software owner can modify the program for LIMITED purposes
- Case: Owner of lawfully made copy can resell the copy
- Case: Right to Create Derivative Works
- Case: Anti-Trust / Copyright Misuse?
- Case: Digital Millennium Copyright Act
- Case: Trademark Infringement or Fair Use?
- Case: Relief & Damages / Claims Remain for Trial
 
Downward spiral

I would say Psystar had this coming they even foresaw it in the way they designed their logo.

Downward spiral literally.

I design logos and I would always want the logos to represent the best qualities of the entity adopting it.

Just a thought to break the lawyering around here. :D
 
Detailed analysis of the summary judgment against Psystar


- Case: Owner of lawfully made copy can resell the copy

Seems the court took a dim view of Psystar's "lost" business records, which made them fully unable to prove they had lawfully purchased any copies.

When you cannot prove how many machines you sold, or the purchases made for those machines ... sort of makes it difficult to win a first sale doctrine case. :rolleyes:
“Section 109 provides immunity only when copies are ‘lawfully made. The copies at issue here were not lawfully manufactured with the authorization of the copyright owner’.” [p7 13-15] “The first-sale doctrine does not apply to an admittedly counterfeit unit.” [p7 20]
No Evidence of Legitimately Purchased Mac OS X DVD

Psystar didn’t even attempt to indicate that it had bought legitimate copies of Mac OS.
 
Seems the court took a dim view of Psystar's "lost" business records, which made them fully unable to prove they had lawfully purchased any copies.

When you cannot prove how many machines you sold, or the purchases made for those machines ... sort of makes it difficult to win a first sale doctrine case. :rolleyes:

Yeah the court determines:
"No Evidence of Legitimately Purchased Mac OS X DVD"

It's not like they bought the "DVD" using cash from the back of a truck
(even if that's the case, i.e. speaker scam, you can still request a receipt).
 
Can't wait for the IRS audit. Likely they never filed, and with no records and a stupid president saying they had thousands of machines to ship out.

Yay, 100% profit based on every deposit made to your account, and you can't prove a single write-off ... here is your tax bill. :eek:

Edit: I know they used to use that tactic, but the new kinder-gentler IRS probably lets you write off the KY Jelly.
 
true

Apple greed? Come on -- it is a company! It makes money off of its products. Just because you don't like Apple's pricing or profitability doesn't mean that ripping them off is okay.

Quality is worth paying for.

Exactly... it's quite simple really, if you don't like the pricing, go ahead and buy Apple shares B-)

J
 
You really think these lawyers were working pro-Bono?????

The chances of Psystar winning were a long shot, outside of someone in their family, most lawyers would think twice about such a long shot.

You actually believe that they did it pro-bono?


Ya agreed.


Looking at it from that perspective you have to wonder,maybe their backers {if there are any that is} created Psystar,or got on board later,in order to test Apples eula from a safe pr position.
 
I don't agree with the judgement... Apple is all pissed because someone found a cheaper way to sell their software. I kind of wish Apple was like MS (I'm gonna get killed for this one) and would open their software up to other hardware companies and give consumers some more options.

I agree, it's no different than PC Clones...
 
I agree, it's no different than PC Clones...

It's hugely different. Microsoft used (and may still use) monopolistic practices to extract a fee for every PC sold, whether or not it ships with Windows, and to take over the profitable productivity software market. So Microsoft can make money just selling its software and related services, since it leveraged it's monopolistic practices to own 95% of the market. It's strategy is therefore all about ubiquity, and it licenses its OS, thereby granting permission for the PC "clones."

Apple, on the other hand, couldn't make a profit just selling its OS - it makes most of its money on hardware. Therefore, it has to make a superior OS to convince people to stray from the "norm" and buy its hardware (which, arguably, is also superior on average). Since the software and hardware are sold as a bundle, the "cost" of the software to the consumer is negligible.

Imagine you ran a lemonade stand. You sell glasses of lemonade for $1.00, and refills for $0.10. The cost of the refills takes into account your knowledge of what % of people want refills, what the cost of the first glass is to make, etc. Now someone comes along and demands that you sell him refills without him buying the first glass. That's exactly what Psystar was doing. It wanted to take advantage of the low per-copy OS price that Apple can only charge because it assumes you own Apple hardware.

Apple tried to do the clone thing in the mid-1990's. I worked at Exponential, and we sold powerpc chips to Umax and Power Computing. Just when we were going to ship our first batch, Steve Jobs came back and killed the clones. And rightfully so. Apple was bankrupting itself subsidizing other companys' hardware sales in order to pursue OS market share. As it turns out, for a company to survive, it needs profit, not marketshare.
 
I would say Psystar had this coming they even foresaw it in the way they designed their logo.

Downward spiral literally.

I design logos and I would always want the logos to represent the best qualities of the entity adopting it.

Just a thought to break the lawyering around here. :D

Then you should like Telecom NZ's silly new "scribbled snowflake" ... messy and frozen just about sums up the company perfectly. ;) Of course, they probably paid some "marketing" company many thousands of dollars for what a four year old could have done for a lollipop.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.