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Sony Sued Over PS3 Cell Chip Technology

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

July 31, 2007, 10:35 AM

Sony has been sued in federal court over the construction of its cell processor chip in the PlayStation 3, as a California company says the parallel processing technology infringes on patents it owns. Parallel Processing Corporation filed the suit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on July 28.

The company claims Sony's cell chip infringes on a patent it received in 1991 that gave it rights to technology that governs "synchronized parallel processing with shared memory." Parallel is asking the court to impound and destroy any Sony product that infringes on its technology, as well as damages and attorney fees. Sony has declined to comment on the matter.

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By LawN'Punishment

edited Sep 7, 2007 - 3:43 AM

As I am majoring in law and federal court, I am most certainly positive that not only does Sony have to recall the Playstation 3, but have to recall ALL Sony products. Movies, Music, Video Games, Headphones, CD Players, DVD Players etc.

Score: 0

By GREGORY42

posted Sep 1, 2007 - 5:33 PM

Sony will be as sick as parrots when the verdict is returned and all ps3 have to be distroyed and all you sony fan boys will be wondering what hit them.

Score: 0

By GREGORY42

posted Aug 31, 2007 - 3:46 PM

Sorry guys I made an error what I ment to say is if cell is illegal than ps3 is illegal

Score: 0

By GREGORY42

edited Aug 31, 2007 - 3:41 PM

is cell chip is illegal then ps3 is illegal.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Aug 1, 2007 - 3:56 PM

I have a patent on being the biggest ball busting jagoff on BetaNews. Except there is only one person that incurs the full wrath of my rapist wit.

He owns this system.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

You poor people will be so sick of me attaching this link to my posts, but it has to be done in the name of entertainment.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Aug 2, 2007 - 10:54 AM

You are to funny.

Score: 0

By plague201

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 4:02 PM

I love it, keep them coming.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 6:38 PM

Lol same here. I am entertained. Of course anything that gets the Sony cheerleaders panties in a wad is entertaining lol.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 7:24 PM

Thank you both, I am about to kick it into high gear. This is mellow compared to what an annoying jerk I can truly be.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 11:21 PM

*grabs popcorn*

This is funner to watch than most of the PS3 games!!! lol

Score: 0

By nomad_28

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 12:57 PM

I would like to think if I came up with something inovative I could have the protection of a patent to protect me until I got the funds or the investors to support my idea. If patents didn't exist, how would the average person be able to come to market with it if anyone could steal the idea. Where is the incentive for the investor to help an inventor if they can just steal the idea legally. If anything, the patent office should be responsible enough not to approve patents to multiple parties that could end up in a law suit, if they do they should be liable.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 1:53 PM

I totally agreed with your point of view, however, this company is sitting on it since 1991. I think if a patent is granted to an individual or company, they should to give a fix time to bring a prototype or a product to the market. Say 5 years? If they don't, the patent becomes public property, and every can use it.

Score: 0

By nomad_28

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 4:47 PM

Thanks for your comment and I also agree with you regarding some of your points. I have heard of the companies that seem to make collecting patents and sueing other companies the basic model of their business. But for those that can keep a history of effort to get their idea on the market should still be able to hold their patent. Lets just say that had to submit X number of proposals per year to try and get their product funded and they would have to show rejection letters so their patent does not expire. A time limit on patents that leaves no options could still be abused. I just believe that a person should be given a chance to prove they are actively trying to market a product.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 12:27 PM

This is just BS, Parallel processing has been around long before this patent was filed. This will fail on prior art, let alone all the other flaws, like them sitting on it, and not actually having any product based on their patent.

Slashdot also reports the company was formed last month, purely to progress this patent infringement.

American patent system is in a really bad shape. I sure however many lawyers will make $$$ on this, and Parallel Processing Corporation are already spending Microsoft's money.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 3:49 PM

Why do you even care Dav....I mean MinuteMaid.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

Score: 0

By slinkys_delsol

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 12:01 AM

I remember this idea I had years ago. See, it had this Big Ape, and this little Italian Plumber and the Ape takes his girl...

I am just wasting my time telling you all.

If anyone hears that a Company comes out with something like this, remember it's my idea... I mean, you all have my back right?

Score: 0

By WeezulDK

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 8:40 PM

*flame retardant suit on*
This is just proof that god hates Blu-Ray.

(Just go with me on this one, it's a joke....)

Score: 0

By JonathanD

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 10:27 PM

I dont know witch HD format will "win" but if the PS3 flops, I know Sony bet big on the PS3 to push Blu Ray. What if PS3 does flop ? will it drag Blu Ray into its grave ?

Dont fear the flames lol

Will make for some interesting history either way !

Score: 0

By JonathanD

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 8:05 PM

This story has me all confused, on one hand im not exactly a huge Sony fan (they lost me after the PS2 for multiple reasons...) but on the other hand I also have a deep hatred for patent squaters... So I dont know who to cheer for :( Well I guess I could cheer for this out come... Sony pays out a ton of money to lawyers and defends the Cell CPU but the judge says that the company that looses the case does not have to pay the fee's. That way each company can pay for there own stuff and no one comes out the winner...

Score: 0

By GS5

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 4:02 PM

It's all Nintendo's doing. That was their plan all along to dominate the market:-) LOL

Score: 0

By JonathanD

edited Jul 31, 2007 - 10:28 PM

Yeah its called sand bagging... They plotted this all out so Sony and MS would lose there shirts developing these killer HD game systems then kick there butt's with a cheap machine... (I also have a bridge for sale and im taking pre orders for mineral rights on mars... heheheh)

Edit: And no you cant have my Wii *eyes the room a bit*

Score: 0

By Program86

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 4:01 PM

In 1991? Are you kidding? And they have done what with that patent since 1991? Nothing.

So they should get..... Nothing. Simple.

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

edited Jul 31, 2007 - 3:53 PM

As much as I'd laugh to see all the PS3s destroyed, there's no chance of it happening.

Score: 0

By grivad

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 3:34 PM

How utterly stupid, seriously.

It disgusts me that there are "think tanks" out there that are literally just groups of douchebags who think of ideas, try to patent them vaguely, then just sit back and wait until someone comes out with something that might fit their patent to sue them and cash in. Absurd.

Then there's these guys who might have come up with a similar idea as Cell and patented it, even though they might not have had any means to actually produce what they were patenting. Sony comes along, has the same idea on their own, actually makes it, and gets sued.

Patents for products should not be granted unless a working prototype is presented along with the patent application.

Score: 0

By dahri

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 7:15 PM

You're right, they really should improve the rules on patent, and the way patent granted.

Just i think, new rules on patent will end up being used by big companies against small ones who actually do the homework.

Best solution would be to remove patents?

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 12:26 PM

As usual, Sony steals everything.

I wish someone would steal this sh!tty system at Dav'e house.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

I'm such a d***.

Score: 0

By fernz33

edited Jul 31, 2007 - 7:36 PM

Seriously, what's wrong with you Hollywood__?

You do realize that the only thing you are doing is making yourself look like a pathetic moron. You act like an obsessed and confused little child with serious psychological problems.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Aug 1, 2007 - 3:51 PM

That's true...... hey wait a minute.

You're Dave.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 3:41 AM

It was a joke.

Score: 0

By plague201

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 4:00 PM

LMAO, oh man, thats just to funny.

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 1:14 PM

Stop it, your killing me here.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 1:57 PM

More like Hollywood is making an a** of himself. Many of us would kill for a system like that.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Aug 1, 2007 - 3:41 PM

That sounds like Dave propaganda. And I'm all about making an a** of myself.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

A 42" plasma can be bought for under $1000 these days and the POS3 is only $499

s***, you can have mine. Unless you are Dave. Which you are.

Score: 0

By siryak

edited Jul 31, 2007 - 10:41 PM

Since he only has a PS3 game console I wouldn't have any games to play, so nah I wouldn't kill for that system.

Score: 0

By Program86

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 3:59 PM

You can have mine... Its just collecting dust.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 3:44 PM

So is his apparently.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

Look at the layer of filth on everything. Don't you have a butler or maid to clean your dojo?

Score: 0

By Alex Stevens

edited Jul 31, 2007 - 3:50 PM

You'd actually kill someone for a PS3? Are Sony fanboys actually that freaking brainwashed and insane? Oh, yeah actually I guess they are.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 3:45 PM

It's the same Sony freak who owns that "system"

I mean this one

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

Covered in filth.

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 4:27 PM

SYSTEM

There is more there than a PS3

Score: 0

By Hocuspokus

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 7:12 PM

A Sky HD box is no big deal (in fact I bet the idiot paid full whack for it too).

The TV?
Is that an old SD CRT widescreen (bet he doesn't have the ba*ls to show the full sized pic that shows everything off properly)?
Pppppfffffhhhhhh.

The PS3?
LMAO

.....and is that an old top loading VHS at the bottom?!

PMSL

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 3:46 PM

MinuteMaid, I mean Steve, I mean Dave is getting pissed. We better stop.

On second thought, let's really bust some balls.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

Score: 0

By MinuteMaid

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 8:20 AM

Didn't he/she show the full TV off in the other thread? It was a 42in Panny plasma if I recall.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Aug 1, 2007 - 3:46 PM

OMG, it's Dave complimenting his own system.

http://img409.imageshack...09/1838/image038bf9.jpg

No one would put he/she in thier comment unless they were trying to appear innocuous. Calling it a Panny? Only the owner of a "Panny" would give it such a gay nickname.

Dave / Steve, you are pathetic. All of posts under all your usernames come in at the same time. You probably forget there is a time stamp on evry one of your multiple username posts. You cant fool someone with a 320 IQ.

Score: 0

By terminalx

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 11:48 AM

Abolish Patents, this is getting ridiculous as much as I dislike Sony it sounds like they don't even have a product just the idea.

I don't see how this crap continues.

Score: 0

By TomeOne

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 11:40 AM

America, **** YEAH!

Score: 0

By kholdstare

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 11:30 AM

wow too many of these stupid lawsuits going on. The government better do somthing before people stop innovating and creating new products because they are scared of being sued

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 11:19 AM

*laughs*

Yeah. Pull every PS3 out of the stores, discontinue any support or products for the model, and pay up.

Sure.

That'll happen.

*shakes head*

What a waste of money.

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 11:19 AM

How many more companies full of cunts are there going to be out there, suing people over things they had a chance to sue them over YEARS earlier, before they completely overhaul the patent system.

"Parallel is asking the court to impound and destroy any Sony product that infringes on its technology"

That's just rude. They've had about 4 years to talk to Sony about the cell processor and ask either they stop making it or pay them royalties.

Score: 0

By Metfanant

posted Jul 31, 2007 - 11:08 AM

why are they not going after IBM?...and where were they YEARS ago when Sony announced the cell....this lawsuit is nonsense...

Score: 0

By meb

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 11:57 AM

They ain't going after IBM, cause IBM's patent portfolio is one of the biggest going.

The IBM lawyers would have a field day and squash the little bug that is Parallel Processing Corporation.

They know that.. so they are attempting to go after Sony...

Could it also be that our friends at MS are funding the challenge?

Score: 0

By Briguy

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 3:26 PM

Why not? Considering Sony didn't create the Cell chip... It was jointly developed by IBM,Toshiba and Sony.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_microprocessor

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Aug 1, 2007 - 6:29 PM

It's not illegal to make, it is illegal to sell.

Or probably something along those lines.

Score: 0

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