Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 26th Dec 2008 20:00 UTC
Large multinational software companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google, rarely - if ever - initiate patent infringement lawsuits against other software companies, probably because they themselves infringe on lots of patents too. However, they do get sued themselves by smaller companies. Even though the Christian part of the world is all about forgiveness and love and pink ponies during the holidays (or, at least, they ought to be), Apple, Google, and Microsoft have been struck by a patent infringement lawsuit started by Cygnus Systems.
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RE[3]: Can you say...
by PatentObserver on Mon 29th Dec 2008 20:46
in reply to "RE[2]: Can you say..."
Member since:2008-12-28
"1 1/2 years": There are differences between countries, and there are differences in the field of the patent. In the field of this patent would be extremely unlikely to even get the first response within 6 months.
"Continuation": You see this on the front page of the patent. You cannot see this information on the link you used "patentstorm" without subscribing and then seeing the printed patent. You will, however, be able to see it e.g. on the US Patent and Trademark Office web site: www.uspto.gov, or here: http://ipwatchdog.com/patents/US_7346850.pdf.
Look about halfway down on col 1 on the front page: Related US Application data.
Member since:
2005-12-02
"DrillSqt is obviously not very well versed things realted to patents:"
Absolutely true. I hold no patents.
"1. It takes MUCH more than 2-12 months for a patnet to issue. It can easily take 6-12 before you get the first response to your application. It almost never takes less than 6 months just for the first response."
Interesting to note then. My information was based on asking someone I know who has 5 patents how long the process took. They have always had one granted without the extremely long wait, the longest taking 1 1/2 years.
"2. The patent here in question is a continuation patent, i.e. it is a second patent based on the disclosure (and patent application) of an earlier patent. In this case, the parent patent was applied for in 1998. This application (the continuation) was applied for in 2001. All this is readily available is you had taken the time to look at the front page of this patent."
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7346850/fulltext.html
Is that not the patent? I just read it again and see nothing about it being a continuation.
Either way, thanks for the education. Always good to learn.