Sony sued again....This time it affect many people.

[Neo Kaiser]

http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/20 ... ray-discs/

The Blu-Ray is in danger and these idiots are killing my dream of storing most of my files on a single 50 GB disc. I hope that Sony wins this time.

[Deathlike2]

Oh noes, another Sony proprietary disc is potentially doomed.

Blu-Ray technology is not in danger.. it just means Sony will be in greater debt if they lose... possibly resulting in the PS3 to be the next Dreamcast.

[Joe Camacho]

Yeah, fuck those idiots that try to defend their intelectual property. If they have a case, let them fight in court.

[Gil_Hamilton]

Oh noes, another Sony proprietary disc is potentially doomed.

If by proprietary you mean "not proprietary."





I don't get why Sony is the only defendant. They're not the only manufacturer, they're not the only distributer, they're not even the only format designer.
The only way it makes sense is if Sony is the only company using that specific reflector, and while there's no detail to the article at all, it's written in such a way that it IMPLIES all BluRay disks are affected by the patent.


With what little information is available, I call it a money/publicity grab.
They're suing the deepest set of pockets on the most visible pants.

[Panzer88]

oh the format may fail but not because of this. Sony is pretty arrogant, they'll not give up, but they also won't be like dreamcast, they have too much money. No the only effect will be them losing money, and the format will fail only by public disinterest, like the UMD, although this format IS more useful.

HD-DVD has disks that are close to the capacity of Blu-rays now right? both are going to see moderate success I think as they are the next real logical step, but it won't be long before physical disks won't sell because everyone will be doing things online direct to drive etc.

[Cyrus]

The Blu-Ray is in danger and these idiots are killing my dream of storing most of my files on a single 50 GB disc. I hope that Sony wins this time.

They're killing my dream of sorting most my files on a single rewritable 200GB (6x33) disc.

HD-DVD has disks that are close to the capacity of Blu-rays now right?

No you, HDDVD = 15GB per layer, BluRay = 25GB or 33GB per layer. AFAIK these are what have been made so far: 25GB (1x25), 50GB (2x25), 100GB (4x25) and 200GB (6x33).

Though I'd much rather see these discs come into reality:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_Discs

[grinvader]

Imo, holo stuff shouldn't be disks. The point in holo data storage is that incident angle affects what's actually written/read. Disks aren't made for that kind of method.

Remember, with holo 100% of the tridimensional room is used, in -every- angle. You have 360° * 180° per single point x,y,z to store/read data. Actual data capacity per volume of material boils down to the precision of the hardware used to set the 2 angles and 3 coords.
With crap hardware even the best holo material would yield crap GB/cubic inch.

Also, holo hardware that actually supports the whole angle range is kinda bulky, usually involving circular railguides around the holo material. Anything that would fit in a classic 5.25" would probably heavily cut down the available angle ranges, especially vertical, causing a major data/volume drop.

Oh well.

[Joe Camacho]

Oh noes, another Sony proprietary disc is potentially doomed.

If by proprietary you mean "not proprietary."





I don't get why Sony is the only defendant. They're not the only manufacturer, they're not the only distributer, they're not even the only format designer.
The only way it makes sense is if Sony is the only company using that specific reflector, and while there's no detail to the article at all, it's written in such a way that it IMPLIES all BluRay disks are affected by the patent.


With what little information is available, I call it a money/publicity grab.
They're suing the deepest set of pockets on the most visible pants.

They are the only defendant because they are (according to Target) the only ones using their technology *without* paying them royalties.

[Deathlike2]

Oh noes, another Sony proprietary disc is potentially doomed.

If by proprietary you mean "not proprietary."

Probably should have worded it as "Sony favored technology".

[whicker]

Obviously Target Technology needs to get sued by Target Corporation for mallocious confustion and primary embiggenation.

Patent for "Metal alloys for the reflective or the semi-reflective layer of an optical storage medium" Congratulations, you've effectively patented a disc's reflective surface (a mirror). Mirrors have been using silver for how many centuries?

[Joe Camacho]

Obviously Target Technology needs to get sued by Target Corporation for mallocious confustion and primary embiggenation.

Patent for "Metal alloys for the reflective or the semi-reflective layer of an optical storage medium" Congratulations, you've effectively patented a disc's reflective surface (a mirror). Mirrors have been using silver for how many centuries?

Please don't be so dense, before this technic, disc used gold as they are pressed, now they use silver (Obviously it's more complicated than that, it also has to do with the way the disc is pressed, also, the alloy can be made in a certain way, that can be patented too), all other companies that press disks using this technology are paying royalties.

Sony appears to be using a technic that it's similar in a way that the defendant claims patent infringement.

This will be decided at the courts, but hey, it's not like Sony *doesn't* have history of copying patented technology.

This is a company that already licenses it's patent, it's not a guy in a basement registering patents and just waiting for the moment to sue when he sees something similar on tv.

Hell, this is why patents were created in the first place.

[Panzer88]

I thought it was to protect intellectual property, silly me

[Neo Kaiser]

Blu-Ray patent was filled in 2003 or I'm wrong?

[Joe Camacho]

I thought it was to protect intellectual property, silly me

I don't know how to interpretate that wink, so I will assume the worst. that's exactly what it's happening in this case. A company thinks that someone else is using their patented technology without paying, and takes it in the courts.

The detractors of patents have the position that patents hinder technology, because anyone can make a vague patent and register it, but not "produce" it, just sit on the patent until someone manages to produce a similar tech.. Then sue the hell of it.

There's been quite a couple of cases like that the last couple of years, but this one seems legit.

Blu-Ray patent was filled in 2003 or I'm wrong?

It's not the DISK! It's the pressing procedure. According to what I have read, there was an old way to press DVDs, not just Blue Ray disks, Normal and HD Dvds too.

This company found a better way to press the disks, and started licensing their procedure to other companies. They think they have evidence that shows that Sony is using a procedure that it's similar enough to theirs that could be considered patent infringement, I seriously think that Sony can't be that stupid to use the SAME, because they haven't licensed the procedure to Sony.

If Sony can prove they aren't using their method, or it's different enough to not be considered infringement, then Sony will be cleared. If the procedure is similar enough to be patent infringement, then well, I assume they will settle, or worse.

[Neo Kaiser]

I thought it was to protect intellectual property, silly me

I don't know how to interpretate that wink, so I will assume the worst. that's exactly what it's happening in this case. A company thinks that someone else is using their patented technology without paying, and takes it in the courts.

The detractors of patents have the position that patents hinder technology, because anyone can make a vague patent and register it, but not "produce" it, just sit on the patent until someone manages to produce a similar tech.. Then sue the hell of it.

There's been quite a couple of cases like that the last couple of years, but this one seems legit.

Blu-Ray patent was filled in 2003 or I'm wrong?

It's not the DISK! It's the pressing procedure. According to what I have read, there was an old way to press DVDs, not just Blue Ray disks, Normal and HD Dvds too.

This company found a better way to press the disks, and started licensing their procedure to other companies. They think they have evidence that shows that Sony is using a procedure that it's similar enough to theirs that could be considered patent infringement, I seriously think that Sony can't be that stupid to use the SAME, because they haven't licensed the procedure to Sony.

If Sony can prove they aren't using their method, or it's different enough to not be considered infringement, then Sony will be cleared. If the procedure is similar enough to be patent infringement, then well, I assume they will settle, or worse.

Ok so the pressing method is not part of the Blu-ray patent.

[Joe Camacho]

From what I have read, yes, then again, I'm not that savy to read patents and find their similarities and diferences.

[Panzer88]

my comment was only expressing my thoughts on the opinion that patents are made for no other reason than to sue people who come up with something similar, as apposed to being a way to protect your ideas so you can control who uses them and get paid for them.

I guess it seemed cynical to me, and I was a little sarcastic as a result.

[Cyrus]

Imo, holo stuff shouldn't be disks. The point in holo data storage is that incident angle affects what's actually written/read. Disks aren't made for that kind of method.

Remember, with holo 100% of the tridimensional room is used, in -every- angle. You have 360° * 180° per single point x,y,z to store/read data. Actual data capacity per volume of material boils down to the precision of the hardware used to set the 2 angles and 3 coords.
With crap hardware even the best holo material would yield crap GB/cubic inch.

Also, holo hardware that actually supports the whole angle range is kinda bulky, usually involving circular railguides around the holo material. Anything that would fit in a classic 5.25" would probably heavily cut down the available angle ranges, especially vertical, causing a major data/volume drop.

Oh well.

Bah, maybe you should add some of that info to the wiki page. I suppose they're trying to make it into the form of a disc so future drives could support the old formats as well? Making a new type of storage with a different physical appearance may not fly so easily.

People may have went from VHS to DVDs due to obvious advantages such as no need to rewind and an obviously better picture quality but they won't jump on these holo storage methods for the same reason they're not excited about BluRay; the average Joe dumbass doesn't understand or give a shit about greater storage.

[Panzer88]

of course all other media formats pale in comparison to colossal storage

http://colossalstorage.net/

[snkcube]

Bah, maybe you should add some of that info to the wiki page. I suppose they're trying to make it into the form of a disc so future drives could support the old formats as well? Making a new type of storage with a different physical appearance may not fly so easily.

People may have went from VHS to DVDs due to obvious advantages such as no need to rewind and an obviously better picture quality but they won't jump on these holo storage methods for the same reason they're not excited about BluRay; the average Joe dumbass doesn't understand or give a shit about greater storage.

I think the average Joe just want to watch the movie and not needing to care what 1080p is.

[Joe Camacho]

Could someone tell me how could this "affect many people"?

Edit.- Damn typo.

[Deathlike2]

Could someone tell me how could these "affect many people"?

Imaginary people of course.

[corronchilejano]

Could someone tell me how could these "affect many people"?

Imaginary people of course.

I don't really see it affecting many people. If Sony loses, worst case scenario is Sony buying from a company that pays royalties. Slight (if any) increase in prices, big hit for Sony.

[Panzer88]

this feels familiar with the whole rumble lawsuit, they should just payup this time.

[badinsults]

Whether or not Blu-Ray succeeds makes no difference to me. The topic name is alarmist at best.