Re: PJ's in a snit

[RonB]

On Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:47:39 -0600, Rjack <user@example.net> wrote:

> 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 :)

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.

--
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"