Patent troll strikes again: OPTi heads after Apple this time

With a $7 million settlement from NVIDIA under its belt, and an AMD suit in process, OPTi is really coming on strong in this whole frivolous patent suit thing. Of course, we never were so up on that whole "Predictive Snooping of Cache Memory for Master-Initiated Accesses" family of patents (there's three of them, all named the same thing -- we know that much), so we very well could be overlooking a hefty amount of intellectual property owned by OPTi that the big bad computer industry -- in this case, Apple -- is trampling upon, but somehow we doubt it. The patent was filed on January 16th in the US District Court of Easter Texas, a popular spot for ill-advised tech-related patent law decisions. We can't say this one is looking good for Apple.

[Thanks, DeShaun]

[disciple83 @ Jan 18th 2007 5:19PM]

I think the iPhone is selling for so much to keep Apple in the black after all these lawsuits.

[Joseph @ Jan 18th 2007 5:24PM]

Take that apple fanboys!
(Posted from a Dual 1.8ghz G5)

http://www.thesimexchange.com/

[thak @ Jan 18th 2007 5:30PM]

i believe the lawsuit was filed on the 16th NOT the patent...again great proofing of the article before posting

[Ayle @ Jan 18th 2007 5:47PM]

I kinda understand them : if you dont have enough money to get a decent logo, go look for some by everymean necessary......

[Tim O. @ Jan 18th 2007 6:29PM]

What the heck is predictive snooping and how does it apply to anything Intel, AMD, and especially Apple sell? Apple makes very little of the underlying computer hardware, and I'd guess that's what it's about seeing as AMD nor Intel specialize in software.

[KevMa @ Jan 18th 2007 6:55PM]

Hey thanks for fucking the whole technical advancement OPTi. Hope that money earns all of you a special place in hell!

Your name should be OP=Ti
Old Patents = Tangible income.

Who needs to work when you can make patents? I am in the wrong business.

[Scott @ Jan 18th 2007 10:54PM]

Too bad I didn't come up with a way to frivolously sue companies for ideas I came up with but never used. I'd be rich by now.

[Pete @ Jan 19th 2007 12:56AM]

Patents should be like trademarks. Once registered they must be put into use within a certain time period or they are forfeited. Kinda like the whole iPhone naming debacle. Also, +1 to Tim O. Apple doesn't make the hardware (components w/in the case). They just design it. And I'm pretty sure that if an Apple computer has this "patented tech" then there are others out there that are in trouble

[Andy @ Jan 19th 2007 1:46AM]

If I invent something I should have the right to make money off the invention exclusively, not the patent itself. I can come up with a dozen ways to make this work. Why is it so hard for people to make patent laws fair!?! What a $hitty world!

[KerryB @ Jan 19th 2007 1:47PM]

I don't think that makes terribly much sense, really...

Not everyone has either the means or capability to manufacture products, so the ability to sell their idea (and the rights thereto) is one I'm happy to protect.

Likewise, a simplistic implementation of "use-it-or-lose-it" style time limits would be harmful to smaller, independent inventors.

I think it's obvious that some changes are needed, but I definitely don't think it's a simple matter.

[blaQ @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:30PM]

Apple thought they were the only one with patents huh?....a taste of their own medicine