SanDisk Gets Patent Injunction Overturned A Bit Late

from the but,-maybe-it-all-works-out dept

Earlier in the week, we noted the ridiculousness which allowed a patent licensing firm to get a German court to ban SanDisk from showing its new MP3 players at a major tradeshow, due to a patent dispute. The problem is that the dispute hasn't yet gone to court -- so it seems extremely premature to ban the devices completely (and somewhat pointless to say they can just show photographs). SanDisk's lawyers went to work and got the injunction overturned, but only in time for the last day of the show. Sisvel, the licensing organization is now appealing the injunction, though it doesn't much matter at this point. Of course, on the PR side, perhaps SanDisk should thank Sisvel. It seems like they received an awful lot more press about these new MP3 players than they would have otherwise.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • identicon
    Cleverboy, 8 Sep 2006 @ 5:57am

    Sucks

    Patent weenies.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 6:12am

    You Can Sue...

    ...a Pancake 'Cause it's Flat...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sanguine Dream, 8 Sep 2006 @ 6:23am

    I wonder...

    what the SanDisk player is all about. I must go to there site and check it out. Would never have heard about it if it weren't for this story. Not garauntee that I'll buy one but thanks for the info Sisvel.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Pope Ratzo, 8 Sep 2006 @ 6:29am

    SanDisk makes some great little mp3 players. I've had several (which get passed on to my wife and daughter when new ones come out), and I just bought a 4gig w/ video that blows the iPods away. And it's not so expensive that you're afraid your change will scratch it if you put it in your pocket.

    Why is there no mention of Apple (the new Microsoft) being behind this frivolous suit?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    tehdirtaddict, 8 Sep 2006 @ 7:11am

    Sisvel, you rock!

    Nothing better than free publicity.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 7:28am

    Except that it is not really free, think about all the lawyers involved. . .

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 7:32am

    Wheres the counter lawsuit?

    Please tell me that sandisk is going to sue for punitive damages incurred by not being able to properly show their device at the show.

    I want them to sue the court for issuing the injunction, and I want them to sue Sisvel for their practices as well.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 10:43am

      Re: Wheres the counter lawsuit?

      u sound like a lawer,

      SUE SUE SUE,

      I am having troubles with my ISP wanabe my lawer?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Faz, 8 Sep 2006 @ 7:49am

    Love it

    love lawsuits, get publicity, tells people that oh products outside of apple exist.... wait i have an ipod.. damn it....

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    jsnbase, 8 Sep 2006 @ 9:46am

    Surely you don't mean....

    Techdirt's standard cynicism is confusing me a bit here. Surely we aren't criticizing Sandisk for not forcing the courts to overturn the injuction earlier?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lay Person, 8 Sep 2006 @ 9:47am

    Sue the bastards!

    SanDisk should sue the German court that implemented such a ban in the first place. Not to mention the losses they may have suffered as a result.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Monarch, 8 Sep 2006 @ 9:57am

    You know, I can't find in any article what SanDisk is being accused for patent infringement for. Yes I know it has something to do with Mp3's, but is it for interpretting and playing them on the player, or is it the software player itself, or is it for storing Mp3's? Anyone know why they are being accused of patent infringement? Other that because a Patent Troll says they are?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Severin de Wit, 8 Sep 2006 @ 11:25am

    SanDisk/Sivel

    See my IPEG blog (http://ipgeek.blogspot.com/) for those who speak German, the full text of the Berlin judgement, as well as the aftermath ("Sisvel brings Patent Wild West into Germany") on http://ipgeek.blogspot.com/2006/09/sisvels-brings-patent-wild-west-into.html

    link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.