First, define similar as the A4 was a unique chip to begin with.
The A4 and the Samsung Hummingbird are almost the same basic chip, both with optimizations done by Intrinsity before Apple bought the company.
First, define similar as the A4 was a unique chip to begin with.
Because the question is more than just "do they infringe?" It is "Are they being a patent troll or not?"
Then the true test should have been between the A4 and a Hummingbird, not the Snapdragon.The A4 and the Samsung Hummingbird are almost the same basic chip, both with optimizations done by Intrinsity before Apple bought the company.
And the proposed definition said if they were harmed, they were not. In the above post i clarified that they were indeed harm, and thus no troll. Once more i ask, which part of the question did i not respond to?
Says who? WHo's to say that if Apple had not used the ARM chips, they didn't create other chips that work as good as, or better than their A4 /A5?
No, I am not basically saying that.
I am saying that I am sure no one bought an iPhone because of the ARM chip, but because it's an iOS device. And since the success of the iOS devices is not based on the chips, it does not hurt Via because iOS devices would be the same threat even if they used other chips.
At least that's what I think.
If Apple really infringed Via's patens or not, I do not know.
Whether or not VIA was actually harmed. It would seem that if they were no chance to potentially sell a patent that Apple infringes on, they would have never pursued it, and thus didn't care about any harm, if any was even being done. In my opinion, if they had no intention of pursuing it otherwise, no actual harm has been done. VIA just sees a potential cash-out.
Apples use in itself a validation of its worth being higher than null. For everything with a value higher than null there is a chance to potentially sell. Basically, what you just stated boils down to: If i hadn't bought that piece of software anyway, i should be free to steal it.
And the proposed definition said if they were harmed, they were not. In the above post i clarified that they were indeed harm, and thus no troll. Once more i ask, which part of the question did i not respond to?
First, define similar as the A4 was a unique chip to begin with.
Second, a one chip comparison is a far cry from "any similar chip".![]()
You realise that there are other companies besides Apple in the entire industry?
You realise that there are other companies besides Apple innovating and filing patents for the same?
You realise that there are other companies besides Apple who do not appreciate other companies infringing on their technology?
You realise that there are other companies besides Apple who feel for their products and innovations?
Even Apple needs to pay up.
I found the patents:
US 6,253,311 Instruction set for bi-directional conversion and transfer of integer and floating point data
US 6,253,312 Method and apparatus for double operand load
US 6,754,810 Instruction set for bi-directional conversion and transfer of integer and floating point data
From what I've read so far they are absurdly obvious to one skilled in the art. In any case, 311 and 810 relate to instruction sets, and Apple uses the ARM instruction set. 312 could be Apple-specific optimizations. OTOH, Apple has not released the specifics of any custom work, so it would be interesting to see how VIA figured them out.
That's not how patent infringement is enforced, though. The burden of complaint lies solely on those being infringed. There no patent police looking for infringing products like there are cops looking for theft. If there were, the number of patent disputes would be orders of magnitude higher, so I don't think that's a logically sound point to argue from. The question is: Is VIA trying to protect their revenue sources or create a new one? I think it's the latter because I don't think they would have pursued it if they didn't think they could sell it for a high amount.
That's an empty definition because all patent holders stand to get revenue through products sold or licenses granted. By that definition, harm is always done when a patent is infringed, so it's not a question worth asking. The question lies in the intent of the holder.
The intent was to extract value out of their ip. Apples infringement limits their ability to do that. Thus, they are harmed. Empty or not, it is what it is.
I fundamentally disagree. Apple infringement is precisely what allows them to extract value of their IP. A weapon in a patent war is going to go for more than market value.
How is that even a fair comparison. They are running different software... Typcially when you test hardware you make sure the software is the same...----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by jiarizti
the fact that the A4 outperforms any similar chips in the market.
Source?
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3633/apples-a4-soc-faster-than-snapdragon
So how does Apple's A4 stack up against today's favorite smartphone brainchild? Keep in mind that these results are generated by running two different OSes (Android 2.1 and iPhone OS 3.2) and two different browsers. What we're looking at is the performance delivered by the combination of the CPU and the software stack:
does apples infringement make it easier or harder for via to compete with arm? can i get an answer on that?
The countries I know of where "anything goes" and anyone can copy whatever they like from anyone else without worry of government intervention (like, say, Nigeria) are anything but socialist. The only form of actual socialism I've seen Obama openly support was in the form of taxpayer funded government programs exclusively for the use of military veterans and their families.Can I ask you an honest question. Are you writing this from some socialist country or do you work at the White House? How can one make money if his/her ideas are copied? What would be the point of inventing things if you can't profit on those things?
does apples infringement make it easier or harder for via to compete with arm? can i get an answer on that?
You have zero appreciation for inventors hard work.
You condone theft.
You're part of the problem, that's for sure.
Sad.
It will be interesting.
Remember Apple has significant processor IP.
They were part of AIM (Apple, intel, Motorola) which designed/modified the Power Architecture for Apple computers. They also purchased the assets of Power Computing. They purchased the company that evolved from Exponential Technology, Intrisity that specialized in high performance processor architectures.
Apple has plenty of processor IP in it's patent portfolio.
VIA may well have picked the wrong fight.
Should seriously have a "Lawsuit" section, we've had enough stories to justify it./QUOTE]
Yes, and a section for "Apple opens a new shop in xyz" and another section for "new iPhones cases have been seen in the wild".
How is that even a fair comparison. They are running different software... Typcially when you test hardware you make sure the software is the same...