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Apple, Sony Sued for Patent Infringement Over iTunes, Playstation Network Systems

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The inventor of technology used in data vending systems such as the iTunes and Playstation Network systems has sued Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple Inc. and Foster City, Calif.-based Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC for patent infringement.

Inventor Benjamin Grobler is represented by intellectual property attorneys Christopher Banys and Richard C. Lin from the Palo Alto, Calif., office of The Lanier Law Firm. The lawsuits filed on March 27, 2012, allege that Apple and Sony are infringing U.S. Patent No. 6,799,084.



The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the '084 patent to Mr. Grobler in 2004. The patent covers data vending systems that allow users to store and manage digital music, video, software and other items on a variety of electronic devices.

According to the lawsuit, Apple and Sony have infringed the patent by making and offering infringing data vending systems such as iTunes and the Playstation Network, and that the companies are inducing their customers' infringement by using these systems.

"You would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't listened to music or watched a video through iTunes or the Playstation Network," says Mr. Banys, head of the nationwide intellectual property practice at The Lanier Law Firm. "Tech giants can't just take an inventor's work and use it as their own. This lawsuit represents our client's effort to bring some accountability to the system."

The cases are Benjamin Grobler v. Apple Inc., No. CV-12-1534, and Benjamin Grobler v. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, No. CV-12-1526. Both are pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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trickson

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Evil bastards!
 
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The patent covers data vending systems that allow users to store and manage digital music, video, software and other items on a variety of electronic devices.

So .. he can basically sue anyone who's ever made a mp3 player since 2004 ? Very clever and/or very ridiculous .. :banghead:
 
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What does he want? Money? He will surely get it
 

RicheemXX

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It doesn't really look like it has much to do with MP3's rather the delivery system. I could be wrong though.

Having re-read the "press release" it really looks to me more like a PR stunt than anything. The patent was filled months after Apple released iTunes, so its likely to be invalidated. But the overall scope of the release was nothing more than a running ad for the law firm.
 
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god screw apple and their patent trolling. Because of what they have done when it comes to patents over the years I will never buy an apple product.

Whoops nevermind, i thought apple was sueing SOny, but then again either way. screw Apple.
 
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What, that guy got the patent in 2004 and is now suing Sony and Apple in March 2012. That's 8 years time! I think people should loose their right to sue companies if they are lazying around for 8 years, especially when they are not doing anything with their socalled invention. I guess he waited 'till Sony and Apple are making the big money in all these years, and then sue them for a bigger "compensation" if the time is right.

Anyway, why is the guy not suing Valve (STEAM), EA (Origin) and Microsoft (Xbox/Windows live) too, since they are pretty similar, right?
 
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im pretty sick of apple news, it just sue this company then sue that company
 

RJSheppard

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What's this guy thinking? Does he have the money to go up against Apple and Sony????This is a huge moneygrab..............and guess who's going to profit - the lawyers. This guy has waited too long to do anything about this. But the lawyers are more than happy to try though!!!!!!:laugh:
 
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Anyway, why is the guy not suing Valve (STEAM), EA (Origin) and Microsoft (Xbox/Windows live) too, since they are pretty similar, right?

probably a PC gamer :laugh:
 
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What's this guy thinking? Does he have the money to go up against Apple and Sony????This is a huge moneygrab..............and guess who's going to profit - the lawyers. This guy has waited too long to do anything about this. But the lawyers are more than happy to try though!!!!!!:laugh:

Pretty sure most lawyers would take a case for free if they felt they had a legitimate case and the plaintiff can't afford the fees. Apple and Sony, two companies I detest, will probably settle out of court.
 
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