Pioneer wins plasma patent case over Samsung, awarded $59.3 million

Pioneer may be licking its wounds, but at least there's one bright spot on an otherwise dark end-of-year. The US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in Marshall (read: patent troll heaven) recently found that "Samsung willfully infringed two Pioneer patents covering plasma display technology," leading to a settlement which involves Samsung handing Pioneer a check for $59,351,480. Samsung has yet to comment on the ruling, but it's pretty easy to imagine what it's probably thinking, wouldn't you say?

[Via SmartHouse, thanks Anthony]

[Atropos @ Nov 4th 2008 2:47AM]

I know there are a lot of really horrible things happening in the world right now, but... can't someone in a high political position do something about patent trolling? It gets worse every single day and a lot of people (not this case in particular, I'm not totally sharp on the details here) are being FUCKED OVER IN BIG WAYS.

Somebody! Do something! Help!

[SITEiNK @ Nov 4th 2008 4:02AM]

this is really good news for Pioneer.
I have one of their sets, and it is an amazing machine.
i am hoping they will put this money to good use and keep cranking out some great displays.



------------------
http://ROCKandREVIEW.com/

[Dave Chappelle @ Nov 4th 2008 6:23AM]

@SITEiNK

ye trust me there going to do a lot with this 60 million like perhaps deduct it from there fiscal losses NO LONGER WILL PIONEERS losses be $790 million BUT $730 million! lol.

nah j/ks this could not have come at a better time for Pioneer it will hopefully put this to R&D on say.. OLED's? that would be really cool. or maybe just better there car audio systems or home theater's.

[Dave Chappelle @ Nov 4th 2008 6:24AM]

edit: thank god for proof reading originally i write fiscal losses down to $740 million. XD

[Mikey @ Nov 4th 2008 10:02AM]

I think its a pretty big (meaning impossible) stretch to call Pioneer a patent troll. But, more than likely you are using patent troll because it is a buzzword you heard on the internets, and you have no idea what you're talking about. I've found that is generally the case with most people on tech websites when they talk about the patent system... they really have no clue.

[Colin Potter @ Nov 4th 2008 2:49AM]

I patented both starving, and global warming... My lawyers are working out the details for the case of the century...

[Clyzm @ Nov 4th 2008 3:00AM]

You might be onto something with global warming there, but with starving...

Can't take from people that have nothing really, no such luck there.


Seriously though, yeah, patent trolling is getting ridiculous. Maybe free use laws should get a slight revision.

[lawyer bird @ Nov 4th 2008 3:14AM]

59.3 million? Maybe I can have a decent breakfast for once...

[Ian @ Nov 4th 2008 3:20AM]

You're an idiot.

[Luke D @ Nov 4th 2008 3:22AM]

and you're not even in the top three.

[Hangender @ Nov 4th 2008 4:46AM]

Awsum

[Dave Chappelle @ Nov 4th 2008 6:26AM]

i can rearrange your first name with the first letter of your last name to read ---SPAM---

rofl, your parents must have known you were going to be a judd.

[Spawn Xe @ Nov 4th 2008 6:26AM]

its "cheque" not "check"


..sorry, that just really annoys me.

[Precurse @ Nov 4th 2008 10:39AM]

That sir is a Cheque, mate

[therealmusashi @ Nov 4th 2008 12:03PM]

It is "check" in the US now. We Yanks have changed things a bit. Sorry to further annoy with reality.

[Harry Nuts @ Nov 4th 2008 7:07AM]

i have nothing relevant to add.

[XpacTa @ Nov 4th 2008 7:55AM]

Can somebody clarify which Samsung models use Pioneer tech so I can grab one?

[Mark @ Nov 4th 2008 10:01AM]

Its not too hard to imagine.

[XpacTa @ Nov 5th 2008 5:50AM]

You mean plasma models?