Digital Security Systems files patent infringement suit against major Blu-ray players

by Darren Murph posted Aug 15th 2008 at 11:58AM

We've witnessed a few lawsuits related to Blu-ray, but this is the first one we can recall that perfectly fits the "patent troll" mold. The Patent Prospector has it that Acacia subsidiary Digital Security Systems is suing a smorgasbord of big BD players for infringing on a patent that it has held for years. Defendants named include Samsung, Best Buy, Denon, Funai, LG, Matsushita, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, and Sharp, though details beyond that are sadly scant. Oh, and if you're wondering where the complaint was filed, it was in the infamous Eastern District of Texas.

[Via FormatWarCentral]

Filed under: Industry, Misc, Blu-ray

Tags: acacia, Best Buy, blu-ray, court, Denon, Digital Security Systems, DigitalSecuritySystems, Funai, lawsuit, legal, LG, Matsushita, Panasonic, patent, patent troll, PatentTroll, philips, Pioneer, Samsung, sharp, sue, suit, texas

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 15th 2008 12:10PM

Wow. BluRay has apparently hit the big time.

Neutral

James T @ Aug 15th 2008 12:41PM

I'm going to start creating patents for every thought I have.

Starting with a patent for the idea of patenting every thought I have.

Neutral

andy @ Aug 15th 2008 1:25PM

If you're serious, I'll handle it for you, on a flat fee even.

I'll do each application and 2 office actions for 20k. If an RCE is needed or examiner interview, that's another 1k, plus 3k per office action thereafter. Appeals are by the hour at 215 USD per hour, average is 15k per appeal.

Still think people have things patented just to sit on them?

Neutral

James T @ Aug 15th 2008 2:12PM

Hmmm, a million plus for less than 50k. Hell ya.

Neutral

Mr. E @ Aug 15th 2008 2:15PM

@andy - Users working out of their garage? No. Big companies with deep pockets? Most definitely. Stupid, obvious patents are sold and traded around like candy and wind up in possession of companies whose sole purpose is to milk them for revenue. Hence one of the biggest problems with our patent system.

Neutral

andy @ Aug 15th 2008 1:29PM

Darren, please define "patent troll" for me again. I'm going to need some help.

Is it an entity that holds patents that they do not practice like MS, IBM, HP, Apple, Sony, etc.

Or is it just anyone who files a patent suit?

Which definition are we using again here?

You should just move to China, they don't have a viable patent system. Of course, they also have next to no innovation in the technical arts, but that's inconsequential to you right?

Highest Ranked

squiggleslash @ Aug 15th 2008 1:58PM

I can't speak for Darren (nor do I want to...) but generally a patent troll is someone who follows a particular pattern of:

- Looking at an upcoming technology
- Looking for problems that will need to be solved for that technology
- Patenting the obvious solutions (at this stage, because the technology is upcoming, it's not the case that the Patent Office can see the solutions are obvious)
- Going underground for a few years waiting for the tech to go mainstream, for significant numbers of companies to have invested enough into it not to be able to get out easily
- Sue for patent infringement

It's a pattern that's been repeated numerous times. There are companies out there still suing every small business with a web-based store for infringing patents on stuff that virtually everyone implements practically automatically.

Whether this patent is an example is something I can't comment upon. It's just a shame nobody ever concentrates on patenting evil uses of a technology, so that the solution for all the companies targeted is to remove, say, the more obnoxious DRM schemes, etc.

So, hmmm, has anyone got a patent on using say, a code, stored on a flash memory card to ensure movies stored on said card are not played in countries outside of those assigned that code? Excuse me, I have a patent application to make...

Neutral

chad @ Aug 15th 2008 2:12PM

hrmm...Sony is suspiciously absent from the filing. Wonder what kind of relationship they have with Digital Security Systems?

Neutral

chris @ Aug 17th 2008 6:26AM

Maybe they're testing the waters... ie: file the claim against those that are less likely to fight back, get a judgment, then file a 2nd claim hoping to simply settle for a large chunk of $$.

I'm just disappointed in my fellow Texans for letting this techno-pond-scum accumulate here!

Neutral

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 15th 2008 2:54PM

Wow, that's a poorly written patent. It includes source code and even mentioned x86-specific registers.

Highly Ranked

Gus @ Aug 15th 2008 8:37PM

Damn, where's Nfinity when you need him, come on you guys, bring back NF and TT, this could be a very interesting topic, it is now cast in the ranks of "Vanilla", along with every story posted on this site!

Highly Ranked

Gus @ Aug 15th 2008 8:39PM

....even if you have to agree on some sort of censorship, but just bring them back!

Neutral

why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 15th 2008 11:35PM

What are you talking about? What kind of actual useful info would they add to this discussion?

Their repetitive rants were never on-topic anyway. So just go click some old articles and reread their comments there.

Neutral

Gus @ Aug 16th 2008 12:26AM

Perhaps you are one of the fanboys they were targeting, hence your response??

Neutral

steve @ Sep 19th 2008 12:43AM

Patent law needs a major overhaul. The numerous lawsuits by scum that patent stuff they will never produce or shop around is hindering innovation. I think that in order to keep a patent you should have to work to implement that idea into a new product through some means either manufacturing or selling/licensing. Along with that there should be regulations to limit price gouging which would hinder the implementation of the technology. If the company fails to do that the patent will be nullified.

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