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31 Jul 2007
Sony Computer Entertainment America is being sued yet again, this time for alleged patent infringement over the cell CPU used in its new PlayStation 3 gaming console.
The California-based Parallel Processing Corporation filed the suit in the Eastern District of Texas on 26 July citing patent 5,056,000, which describes a "synchronised parallel processing with shared memory", that was approved in October 1991.
Although the patent was originally attributed to a company called International Parallel Machines in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Parallel Processing Corporation is heading up the suit as the self described "exclusive licensee" of the patent.
The suit states that "on information and belief, Defendant Sony Corporation of America has infringed and continues to infringe on the '000 Patent by making, using, importing, offering for sale and/or selling products among other things, covered by one or more claims of the '000 Patent, including, but not limited to, Sony Playstation III."
The suit alleges that Sony's actions "are causing irreparable harm and monetary damage" to the company.
Parallel Processing Corporation is seeking not only attorney's fees and damages, but also the impounding and destruction of all Sony products that infringe on the patent, which would involve a recall of every PS3.
Sony has refused to comment on the case, referring to its policy of not commenting on pending litigation.
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Do you agree?
What a bunch of bullocks!
How can they sue Sony when it isn't even truly their own design? Who is to say they have the only lic. to use the design? Plus it will take the national gaurd to get both my PS3's out of my house. "They can have my PS3's when they pry them from my cold dead fingers."
Posted by: RFOM player x2 05 Nov 2007
i bet the court is going to throw this out the window.
patent 5,056,000 is just an idea. The was no physical invention produced. This is something Microsoft loves to conjure up to cause instability to a company that just released a new product line. I find the article as vague as International Parallel Machines, Inc. patent. Why would they want for Sony to destroy their PS3 and not the CELL chip. There are only 2 competitor in the game console industry. X360 and WII. This patent reads like a sci-fi novel.
Posted by: a husakawa 21 Sep 2007
This doesn't make any sense
First of all, Sony did not develop the Cell Processor, IBM did. The cell processor is even found in some computers. Second, the patent is too vague to make any argument. "synchronised parallel processing with shared memory", I think any modern multi core processor could easily fall under this patent. An intel seems more in it's category than the cell. Bottom Line: Sony has no problem with getting their way, and will certainly win this battle.
Posted by: James Jackson 06 Aug 2007
Um...
I can tell you right now that there is a company with even less regard for the IP of others who deserves to be sued out of existence, and odds are they're the ones controlling the puppets from behind the curtains. And that company is Microsoft.
Posted by: Dark Phoenix 01 Aug 2007
Sounds fake
Who really knows, but this doesn't sound quite right. I would like to see Sony fall from grace (well, more than already) as much as anyone, but given that the patent sounds like its on an idea, not an actual design, I think it will be thrown out of court. The simple fact that the company that is sueing over this doesn't seem to exist outside of the lawsuit seems suspicious. Sony doesn't pay much attention to other people owning IP they created, but this seems to broad to sue over. After all, think of all the furnature compaies you could sue if you were to patent a "flat surface with supports on which to sit people or objects." Anyone who makes beds, chairs, or tables you could use, but its obviously too broad to really mean anything. Then, it seems, what this company is doing would be somewhat like you suing a single store that sells tables, in our example. There may be something to it, but I doubt it in this case.
Posted by: Matt 01 Aug 2007
More patent infringement for Sony
It sounds quite childish but the only remark that fits this news is "Sucked in Sony". Sony is well known for being over zealous in protecting their IP and a track record of total disregard to anyone else's. No one deserves to be spanked more than Sony - good riddance!
Posted by: Peter Sakes 31 Jul 2007