Sony sued over Blu-ray this time
by Nick Doerr 
{ May 25th 2007 at 2:30PM }
Enter California-based Target Technology, suing Sony for the thin alloy film coating their Blu-ray discs. Claiming a 2006 patent entitled "Metal alloys for the reflective or the semi-reflective layer of an optical storage medium" as their legitimacy to damages, Target Tech is taking Sony to court. We've got to ask, seriously? That seems to be a fairly standard piece of technology. We know patents and other forms of intellectual property have a crazy set of rules and laws, especially when placed in international scope, but all this is going to accomplish is slowing Sony down. Sony, just pay these guys and keep on moving! Or destroy them in court, somehow!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
WhackMushroom @ May 25th 2007 3:01PM
give target you know the store a 20% discount on ps3s .. and the legal team to sue target tech over trademark infringement .. done.
OrganicShadow @ May 25th 2007 3:20PM
Umm..... last time I checked there isn't a single company that is "in charge" or "responsible" for Blu-Ray. It was a collaboration by many companies.
I call BS on this one and expect it to either fail or get thrown out because they are pointing the finger at the wrong person. The fact that they have singled out one company is all the proof I need to know that this is just some whiny company trying to get some money.
Hey Target Technology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray
Nik @ May 25th 2007 3:32PM
Interestingly enough, it was the protective coating on Blu Ray discs that kept them from getting on the market for so long. Early prototype discs were stored in plastic cases much like MiniDiscs were because the things were so prone to damage.
Still it doesn't make sense to point the finger at Sony, although they'll probably toss these guys some cash and be on their way.
WhackMushroom @ May 25th 2007 3:29PM
Hey Target Technology: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/tmlaw2.html
Deadalus @ May 25th 2007 3:37PM
Screw justice and intellectual properties! Sony is entitled to be sued over extremely vague patents, because they're just a big faceless evil captialist corporation and we hate them this generation!
Jeez the commenters here are stupid.
Warmwaterpenguin @ May 25th 2007 5:07PM
Understand something; the patent title is vague but the patent is specific. Target Tech owns a particular silver alloy and its application for optical discs. Commonly, gold or aluminum are used, not silver, so their patent is not simply a blanket statement. Likewise, Target Tech is selling and has been selling this technology for 6 years, meaning that they did not simply poach a patent for the sake of future lawsuits but are in fact pursuing business opportunities with said technology.
I'm not going to predict whether or not this lawsuit will fly or make a statement on whether or not it should, but lets all be clear about what is going on. If, as TT alleges, Sony is in fact using their particular alloy for this particular application, then they are in patent violation. If not, well then they are not.
Popfrogs @ May 25th 2007 5:29PM
"Likewise, Target Tech is selling and has been selling this technology for 6 years, meaning that they did not simply poach a patent for the sake of future lawsuits but are in fact pursuing business opportunities with said technology."
Actually I read earlier that they applied for the patent in 2004 and it was granted in 2006. How can they sell the tech for 6 years with no patent? Weird.
Killer @ May 25th 2007 7:30PM
@ popfrog
"Actually I read earlier that they applied for the patent in 2004 and it was granted in 2006. How can they sell the tech for 6 years with no patent? Weird."
Ummmm, Are you serious? A patent isn't something you need to sell something. It's to protect the product from being used without permission or copied. You can sell anything without a patent, you just have to watch your ass, because people will copy the product, but whoever gets the patent first, gets the rights.
Popfrogs @ May 25th 2007 10:06PM
@Killer: Yes, I'm not retarded. I know you can sell something unpatented, but it's a very stupid way to do business, particularly if you think you have a unique or original product. If you're selling Turtle Wax, you don't care, it has been patented. Same goes for bread and cookies, unless you have a unique process.
Just another company looking for a damn payday. Nothing new here.
massive_98 @ May 25th 2007 11:22PM
I patented chewing bubble gum with anything but your mouth. Does that mean I can sue you for chewing bubble gum with your toes?
Michael @ May 26th 2007 3:00AM
I am going to sue Sony...for all the time wasted reading stories about them being sued...I smell another lawsuit.
Brandson @ May 26th 2007 10:14PM
There are an awful lot of other companies (TDK, all the HD-DVD manufacturers, etc.) that have their own methods for coating optical media with a protective layer too. I haven't seen Target's patent, but it looks like they'll be suing lots of people for the next 20 years over this, or scare them into licensing their tech.