Ultra Products Sues Power Supply Manufacturers

[GJSNeptune]

Yeah, they shouldn't be hurting for money.

 

[thebeephaha]

Ultra is lame. This just makes me think they are even lamer.

 

[asb2106]

Yeah, they shouldn't be hurting for money.

maybe its this lifetime warrenty killing them, all the PSUs they have to replace he he

 

[trog100]

i aways thought a patent had to be somehow unique.. something different.. i dont see the idea of detachable plug in cables unique..

what strikes me as odd is that they were granted a patent for such a mundane idea in the first place.. plugs and sockets on the AC side of a psu dont strike me as worthy of a patent..

and where the f-ck does "modular" come in whats removable cables got to do with "modular".. all very odd..

trog

 

[MKmods]

Patents are patents. If the others stole Ultras idea they are gonna pay.(thats why God invented attorneys)

I think Ultra may be on its way out and needs a bit of cash or publicity.

 

[candle_86]

meh who cares, what they do doesnt effect me and you

 

[jonnyGURU]

i aways thought a patent had to be somehow unique.. something different.. i dont see the idea of detachable plug in cables unique..

what strikes me as odd is that they were granted a patent for such a mundane idea in the first place.. plugs and sockets on the AC side of a psu dont strike me as worthy of a patent..

and where the f-ck does "modular" come in whats removable cables got to do with "modular".. all very odd..

trog

This has already been addressed in this thread by those who have actually taken the time to read the patent.

The patent is for the modular interface on the housing. The claim is narrow enough to where the only thing that is patented is not the cables or the fact that they're removable, but the fact that there is an interface on the housing that allows the cables to be modular, ergo, removable. It's also stated in the patent that this is for a device that is inside a personal computer and that the removable cables are those that supply DC power to other devices inside the computer.

I know the legalese makes it difficult to understand, but it is all right there. It's not as vague as some people here are making it out to be and it's not an "old idea" that Ultra just decided to patent.

 

[jonnyGURU]

alright, so they waited years, so more companies would do the modular design and then coma in and say "ALL of you are thieves!"

Actually, they didn't "wait years". The patent was applied for in 2004. It wasn't issued by the USPO until late 2006. It's now early 2008. AFAIK, cease and desist letters were sent out initially, so you have to wait for everyone to respond to those first. Offer them the opportunity to pay licensing fees, etc. Add to that the fact that the legal costs to bring this to court must be huge and something I wouldn't expect anyone to jump into with hastily.

The time-line seems very tight to me.

 

[DanishDevil]

WOW. They patented a lot of stuff...I guess they've got ideas guys over there, just not quality control or sense to use high-end components.

 

[asb2106]

WOW. They patented a lot of stuff...I guess they've got ideas guys over there, just not quality control or sense to use high-end components.

HA HA HA

Actually, they didn't "wait years". The patent was applied for in 2004. It wasn't issued by the USPO until late 2006. It's now early 2008. AFAIK, cease and desist letters were sent out initially, so you have to wait for everyone to respond to those first. Offer them the opportunity to pay licensing fees, etc. Add to that the fact that the legal costs to bring this to court must be huge and something I wouldn't expect anyone to jump into with hastily.

The time-line seems very tight to me.

Oh yah, ceise and desist, I bet that worked well on the big companies HEHE.

 

[1c3d0g]

Oh well...another company I will NOT be buying ANYTHING from, just like Creative! :shadedshu I absolutely hate companies which bring ridiculous lawsuits like these against great companies like Antec, Corsair etc. Apparently if you can't produce great-quality PSU's you need too sue the competition, eh? Truly sad.

 

[candle_86]

If your going to build a product its always best to read patents and check, Ultra is in full leagal right to do this, and remember if the go bankrupt the PSU makers still don't have the ability to use it, as it is still patent infringment

 

[cdawall]

Oh well...another company I will NOT be buying ANYTHING from, just like Creative! :shadedshu I absolutely hate companies which bring ridiculous lawsuits like these against great companies like Antec, Corsair etc. Apparently if you can't produce great-quality PSU's you need too sue the competition, eh? Truly sad.

ummm that makes no sense your saying that because a company makes a good product its above the law?

 

[Darkrealms]

Oh well...another company I will NOT be buying ANYTHING from, just like Creative! :shadedshu I absolutely hate companies which bring ridiculous lawsuits like these against great companies like Antec, Corsair etc. Apparently if you can't produce great-quality PSU's you need too sue the competition, eh? Truly sad.

Like candle_86 said below it doesn't matter if your a good or bad (quality) company. It matters that you came up with an idea and you patent it. If others copy it, it is your RIGHT to take legal action against them.

If your going to build a product its always best to read patents and check, Ultra is in full leagal right to do this, and remember if the go bankrupt the PSU makers still don't have the ability to use it, as it is still patent infringment

By the law. This either makes all other companies using Ultras idea either inept for not looking up the information before they start making a product or unlawful for knowingly infringing on their patents.

 

[Darkrealms]

WOW. They patented a lot of stuff...I guess they've got ideas guys over there, just not quality control or sense to use high-end components.

I believe recently it was posted that IBM requests 5000 patents a year, so Ultra really doesn't have many patents at all.

 

[trog100]

This has already been addressed in this thread by those who have actually taken the time to read the patent.

The patent is for the modular interface on the housing. The claim is narrow enough to where the only thing that is patented is not the cables or the fact that they're removable, but the fact that there is an interface on the housing that allows the cables to be modular, ergo, removable. It's also stated in the patent that this is for a device that is inside a personal computer and that the removable cables are those that supply DC power to other devices inside the computer.

I know the legalese makes it difficult to understand, but it is all right there. It's not as vague as some people here are making it out to be and it's not an "old idea" that Ultra just decided to patent.

i did read the article dude.. i and i still dont see the the idea of plugs and sockets on the AC (inside) of a bloody PC psu as original..

call it what u like its plugs and sockets stuck on something that previously didnt have plugs and sockets.. very original..

ultra might be the first to be cheeky enough to patent such an (unoriginal idea) and i am still amazed that they got away with it..

which probably explains why so many seem to have broken the patent.. it never occurred to them that such an unoriginal idea was under a patent.. it wouldnt to me..

but i am just a normal kinda dude.. who thinks in a normal kinda way not a member of the legal profession..

but as u say its all there.. my views are that in a vaguely sane world it shouldnt have been allowed to be all there.. the patent should never have been granted..

trog

 

[asb2106]

If your going to build a product its always best to read patents and check, Ultra is in full leagal right to do this, and remember if the go bankrupt the PSU makers still don't have the ability to use it, as it is still patent infringment

So you think that these big manufactorers are gonna stop making modular PSU's??

I sure as hell dont, Im really thinking this is gonna end it a deal out side out court. It will save both sides alot of money, Ultra will get some cash out of it, and everyone will be happy - including us.

 

[panchoman]

this does seem like a legit and sueable lawsuit, because if "modular cabling for psu's" was the patent, then a lot of companies may end up having to pay a lot of money --> modular psus may become ultra exclusives or licensing will be involved --> rise in the price of modular psu prices.

thank god pp&c isn't affected

 

[GJSNeptune]

PCP&C doesn't have modular PSUs I don't think. But maybe that's what you were implying.

 

[DanishDevil]

I think that's exactly what he's implying.

But keep in mind, OCZ bought PCP&P. OCZ has modular PSUs...

 

[panchoman]

meh who cares, what they do doesnt effect me and you

it'll affect us when modular psus or even psus in general rise in price or modular psus become an ultra only affair. also it would force small psu companies to go under.

and yes, pp&c has never and probably never will make modular psu's, as modular cabling can lead to more voltage resistance and corrosion and things trapped in the modular ports can really screw things up, and this is against pp&c's quality check etc.

though ocz does own pp&c, pp&c might get affected by this.

 

[DanishDevil]

I agree, but it would take a very "by the books" judgement for Ultra to get a large settlement.

I highly doubt this will truly affect us a whole lot. I think the judgement in this case will have to take into account the market that it will affect, and therefore, it would be an unsound call to give Ultra exclusive rights to modular PSUs.

 

[GJSNeptune]

If Ultra became the sole manufacturer of modular PSUs, non-modular PSUs would surely make a comeback.

 

[panchoman]

they've got a patent though so in the court of law, it should be honored.. i mean the song happy birthday is copy righted for damns sake.

 

[csplayer089]

ultra sucks. its like the house brand of computer parts. this lawsuit probably wont go very far.