11-13-2003, 10:18 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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E-Pass Allowed to Re-open Microsoft, HP Patent Lawsuits
"Intellectual property company E-Pass has been allowed to re-commence its litigation against Microsoft and HP. The company began legal action against the software giant and Compaq early last year. E-Pass claimed that both companies infringe a patent it administers, number 5,276,311 which describes "a multifunction, credit card-sized computer that allows users to securely store a multitude of account numbers, PIN codes, access information and other data from multiple credit cards, check cards, identification cards and similar personal documents". E-Pass claims that Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs are in violation of its patent as they can deliver those functions."
I'm all for having patents protect the "little guy" from the "big guy" coming along and stealing his idea, but this is ridiculous! I'm amazed at the type of patents that are granted sometimes...
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11-13-2003, 10:24 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 713
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Re: E-Pass Allowed to Re-open Microsoft, HP Patent Lawsuits
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
a multifunction, credit card-sized computer
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I wish my PPC could be credit card size! :roll:
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11-13-2003, 10:28 PM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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Re: E-Pass Allowed to Re-open Microsoft, HP Patent Lawsuits
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
a multifunction, credit card-sized computer
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Sounds like the REX...
Steve
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"My eyes are rolling back in my head so far I can see my grey matter bubbling and frothing from reading this thread....bleh." JD
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11-13-2003, 10:32 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 63
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I think it's time I patent my general purpose device that can be used by consumers.
Nice general, open-ended patent that would let me sue anyone for anything they manufacture.
:P
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um, Moo
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11-13-2003, 10:33 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 200
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Due to the expansion of size, thanks to the Appeals Court decision, this now includes those nice, handy handheld organizers (you know, the ones with a keyboard and like 32KB) that pre-date the patent application date. Sheesh.
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11-13-2003, 10:54 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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:2gunfire: E-Pass :takethat:
______ :iamwithstupid:
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PDA History: Palm Pilot 5000 -> Apple Newton 2100 -> Casio E-11 -> iPaq 3650 (64MB Upgrade) -> iPaq 3700 -> Casio EM-500 -> HP Jornada 568 -> HP iPaq hx4705 www.spreadfirefox.com |
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11-13-2003, 11:01 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,468
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This is one situation where Palm, HP, MS, Sony etc. should put aside differences and use their combined might to sit on E-Pass - hard...
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11-13-2003, 11:29 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 36
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Isn't that insteresting
On E-Pass website the predominantly feature pictures of HP Jornada..... made by the company that they are suing...... very very interesting...
CP
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11-13-2003, 11:40 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
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They're even suing VISA?!? :roll:
Yet another "profit through litigation" company. I hope they get nailed to the wall with the "Prior Art" provision.
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11-13-2003, 11:55 PM
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5000+ Posts? I Should OWN This Site!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,133
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Interesting. Well, if the judges aren't going to hold them to the "credit-card sized" aspect, then I believe programmable calculators might be considered prior art. I mean, I had a TI-85 way-back-when before the date of the patent, and I could certainly store credit card numbers in there if I wanted to...
I'm interested to see how this goes. I mean, the hardware itself isn't designed specifically to hold credit card information. I suppose you could store this info in a plain text file, and lock the device with a PIN... But really, the sensitive data like this is stored generally in an encrypted file or encrypted using a wallet program. Since these are 3rd party, couldn't Compaq say "Well, we didn't design the devices for this, so if they are used for it with 3rd party software, we can't control that..."
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Linear Mode
