Smart Parts Patents

[acsik]

business is business is business

Originally posted by Rich S
people go on saying that paintball is not recognised enough, it is too expensive, etc etc blah blah.

10 years ago...

computers cost £2000 for a super fast (50mhz) PC.

today...

computers cost £800 for a super fast (3gig Mhz) pc

why...

comapnies patented stuff, people had to buy licences, companies were amalgamated, sold, purchased, new companies formed and some folded.

when DOS was patented did it cause trouble for unix who had its own form of DOS? no, they adapted, paid or did what was needed to survive.

now to paintball...

SP own a patent, they will licence it to others as it will make them money. if they don't then the other companies will sell non electros or come up with a new system and sell it cheaper to undermine SP therefore they wil lose money. - not good business.

business wise the patent is a good idea for SP, licencing it will also be a good idea. therefore it makes sense.

also comparing it to the computer industry it will be better for us in the future as as companies need to make more money they may drive down the cost of balling.

Conclusion...

it is just business, w can arge, bit(h, boycot whatever, it wont make a difference as people will still use SP.

PS

i don't support or condone what they are doing - currently i am pissed off with SPE as an S-frame i ordered in Feb still has not arrived - but that is to do with SPE and HSW.

OOooooookkkaaay


There is only "tiny" flaw in your logic!

Its every patent lawyer's nightmare two words: "Prior Art"

Wich means that IF there was (and apparently there WAS!!) someone w. an electric grip/trigger assy or even a switch before the Shocker they have no case.

Oh and some flavor for the stuff: Adam Gardner's invention patenting firm was shut down by the FTC for false advertising and other spin doctorings in the past.

http://www.ftc.gov/os/1997/07/davisb~1.htm

Might come handy one day


Cya

 

[acsik]

Ask and you shall receive:


http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/search-bool.html&r=0&f=S&l=50&TERM1=smart+parts&FIELD1=&co1=AND&TERM2=&FIELD2=&d=ptxt



And now Im serious like syphillis


Cya

 

[manike]

I believe the 5 granted patents and 3 (or is it 4?) pending patents have already been posted up in this thread. If you were less busy threadjacking you might have spotted them

You won't be getting hourly updates as this thing has been going on for months and is likely to go on for a lot longer.

Might be an idea to try and keep this a bit clear from the old thread jacks, as it is quite a big issue right now.

 

[JoseDominguez]

Agreed, but what I meant was a definitive statement now on what's been granted/what's pending and what it all means....... lots of people are still discussing wether it's going to happen......but it obviously already has.

 

[Boyley]

Am I missing a point????

Various people earlier in the thread have said wait and see what goes on with the ICD case first....

JUST A THOUGHT

Lets say we do and we find SP are within there rights to do what they want demanding royalties etc. etc, and at the same time setting a presedent for future cases....

As they would then have this precedence set could they then not just take the likes of WDP,WGP,AGD etc to court without any fear of loseing!!!

Obviously I have no knowledge of American Law ( or any law for that matter) and i may be missing the mark completely, but it seems to me its a case of if the first domino falls then the rest will inevitably follow.......

The question is, is there anything we as players can actually do to stop SP or for that matter help ICD as they seem to be first on the hit list???????

 

[Fleisher]

Smart Parts Patent.

Originally posted by Mark
IF this happens......mostly I will be using ...........a Smart Parts marker

IF this happens......mostly I will not be ....playing paintball anymore,like many others I would guess.
Biting the hand that feeds you springs to mind

Smartparts are obviously so far up **** creek ,in terms of products,R&D and turn over they don't mind who they upset...hope it all blows up in their greedy little face's

BOYCOTT SMARTPARTS.

 

[dnafwtbtitft]

I don't think it's an issue of concern over current or new SP products. They have done phenomenly well with their old line of guns, the orignal shockers and the impulse have sold extremely well. Beyond many other products that's for sure. They have a solid set of products that are well placed in the market and doing well.

My opinion is that it is over money and greed and what they think they can grab. They know the system well and think they can get away with these actions. They may well be able to, but in my opinion it won't be good for paintball if they do, and I don't think they are entitled to.

Boyley, that's a good point, if we do sit and wait, by the time we see what is happening it may be too late.

I'd rather in a few years time people say to me 'see your fears were unfounded' than we sit around paying for the worst case scenario...

 

[snowythehobo]

im sorry for my dumbness but im still confused...i cant tell wether the patents have gone through or not?
so can they presently charge the companies liscensing fees and ask for royalties or not?

soz again im slow/dumb

 

[manike]

Originally posted by snowythehobo
im sorry for my dumbness but im still confused...i cant tell wether the patents have gone through or not?

Five patents have gone through (this is referred to as granted). And I think two or three are going through (referred to as pending).

Originally posted by snowythehobo
so can they presently charge the companies liscensing fees and ask for royalties or not?

That's what they are presently going to court to find out. They've started with ICD, and have filed against WDP to be next. After that who knows?

Your not slow or dumb, some of this stuff gives you a serious headache trying to get around it all.

 

[snowythehobo]

cheers manike