Sad day for Swiftech and the H220 in the USA

[newtekie1]

I think you've mistaken patents with profit.

No I'm not, because without a patent there is no guarantee of monetary compensation for your idea. What is the point of even bothering to develop a product if anyone can just take your idea and reproduce it without paying you a cent?

Didn't the original Apogee Drive unit come out before Asetek's AIO's? If it did and I know swiftec owns the patent on those it would mean that they should be able to sell the H220 pump without an issue by itself.

I don't believe so, but even if it did, it doesn't matter. The Apogee Drive came out in 2007, these patents were filed for in 2004/2005, the drawings in the patent are Socket 478 based just to give you an idea how old these patents are.

The issue is that the patents, even though they were filed for back in 2004/5, were only approved in 2012. So Asetek didn't really have the ability to enforce them until they were approved, which is why all these other companies were allowed to freely copy the idea. This isn't really Asetek's fault, it is the patent office's fault. But now that the patents are approved, Asetek can start enforcing them.

These companies had to know this day was coming. And all they have to do is pay Asetek licensing fees to use the technology, and there are laws that say Asetek has to offer reasonable licensing fees to companies that want to license their technology.

 

[springs113]

Glad I have mine but this really sucks... would definitely have bought a second one for another build :shadedshu

Are they going to stop selling the Apogee drive in the US as well?

this gave me a real jump start into water cooling

 

[cdawall]

I don't believe so, but even if it did, it doesn't matter. The Apogee Drive came out in 2007, these patents were filed for in 2004/2005, the drawings in the patent are Socket 478 based just to give you an idea how old these patents are.

The issue is that the patents, even though they were filed for back in 2004/5, were only approved in 2012. So Asetek didn't really have the ability to enforce them until they were approved, which is why all these other companies were allowed to freely copy the idea. This isn't really Asetek's fault, it is the patent office's fault. But now that the patents are approved, Asetek can start enforcing them.

These companies had to know this day was coming. And all they have to do is pay Asetek licensing fees to use the technology, and there are laws that say Asetek has to offer reasonable licensing fees to companies that want to license their technology.

Interesting I didn't realise how old they were. They should still be fine selling a pump/block.

Edit: yup the patent covers a complete kit

http://www.google.com/patents/US8245764

http://www.google.com/patents/US8240362

 

[remixedcat]

Asstek more like it....

 

[Hood]

Merely combining elements of prior engineering art should not constitute a patent; it's just an idea that anyone can describe. I could patent 100 ideas a day by simply describing them in writing, any damn fool thing I could dream up, and just wait for some sucker to make something that I could claim infringes on my patent. Oh wait, that would make me a patent troll. The problem is in the Patent Office. I'm not saying they're corrupt, but if not, they are unique among all the government agencies. Patents should only be issued for specific designs that improve on prior art in tangible ways. Instead we have thousands of patents for "improved turbo design" after some brainiac added a few fins or just swirled a port with a die grinder. Or someone screwed a pump to a water block and thought they invented something, and the idiots in the Patent Office agreed to grant them a patent worded so vaguely that nobody else can screw a pump to a water block without paying them, even when it's a vastly improved design that makes the original look crude in comparison.

 

[newtekie1]

Interesting I didn't realise how old they were. They should still be fine selling a pump/block.

Edit: yup the patent covers a complete kit

http://www.google.com/patents/US8245764

http://www.google.com/patents/US8240362

Yes, but the pump/block combo is part of the patent. It doesn't have to be separate to be valid.

Merely combining elements of prior engineering art should not constitute a patent; it's just an idea that anyone can describe. I could patent 100 ideas a day by simply describing them in writing, any damn fool thing I could dream up, and just wait for some sucker to make something that I could claim infringes on my patent. Oh wait, that would make me a patent troll. The problem is in the Patent Office. I'm not saying they're corrupt, but if not, they are unique among all the government agencies. Patents should only be issued for specific designs that improve on prior art in tangible ways. Instead we have thousands of patents for "improved turbo design" after some brainiac added a few fins or just swirled a port with a die grinder. Or someone screwed a pump to a water block and thought they invented something, and the idiots in the Patent Office agreed to grant them a patent worded so vaguely that nobody else can screw a pump to a water block without paying them, even when it's a vastly improved design that makes the original look crude in comparison.

Can you show me any previous engineering art that contain a pump/waterblock combined in one unit? I doubt it.

 

[btarunr]

Please send some of your US inventory to India, I'd like to buy one.

 

[Mussels]

move the conversation over here