7 ms·

I am guessing this is being posted in relation to the new PS4 game coming out, "No Man's Sky". See controversial article about it here (published yesterday): ht

I am guessing this is being posted in relation to the new PS4 game coming out, "No Man's Sky". See controversial article about it here (published yesterday): http://www.pcgamer.com/company-claims-no-mans-sky-uses-its-patented-equation-without-permission/ http://www.pcgamer.com/company-claims-no-mans-sky-uses-its-p...

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
eridius 10y ago
According to the Wikipedia page (which links to https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=en&tab=main https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=e...), the patent on the superformula was withdrawn in 2006 because the renewal fees stopped being paid. Seems pretty strange that Genicap could assert ownership of the formula when they let the patent expire.
- the_mitsuhiko 10y ago
  It was transferred in early 2015 and the new owner started paying properly: https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=en&tab=legal https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=e...
  - Sir_Cmpwn 10y ago
    No Man's Sky was first publicly demoed in 2013. Seems suspect, this might be an opportunistic renewal hoping to collect rent.
    - jandrese 10y ago
      It is obviously rent seeking.
  - MasterYoda 10y ago
    How is that possible? In that case, it feels like a loophole there people could just skip the annual fees until an opertunity to sue someone occurs and then pay for all the years at ones. Feels also strange a patent that have been withdrawn could be sold.
2bitencryption 10y ago
just to point out, NMS isn't PS4 exclusive, it is releasing on PC as well.
- bluetidepro 10y ago
  Oh, I actually didn't realize that! Good to know! :)
cs702 10y ago
Wait, mathematical functions are patentable!?
- Jtsummers 10y ago
  May not survive, but it's really their application that's patented. You can patent inventions and processes (how software patents came into being, and also how someone patented a "method for exercising cats" - a laser pointer mounted to a platform that moved it randomly).
  - woliveirajr 10y ago
    In some countries you can't patent formulas or processes or even ideas...
    - Jtsummers 10y ago
      And, IMO, that's how it should be in the US. But it's not, not yet at least.
    - pkaye 10y ago
      In which countries? Seems like this particular patent is in the EU so that rules out the EU countries...
      - iamcreasy 10y ago
        In India you can't patent software. It has to be hardware related. Indian Patent Office issued it this year.
        cyphar 10y ago
        Except that system can be counteracted by describing a CPU and then describing an algorithm. Richard Stallman had a talk about patents and mentioned the Indian system.

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

eridius 10y ago

According to the Wikipedia page (which links to https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=en&tab=main https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=e...), the patent on the superformula was withdrawn in 2006 because the renewal fees stopped being paid. Seems pretty strange that Genicap could assert ownership of the formula when they let the patent expire.

the_mitsuhiko 10y ago
It was transferred in early 2015 and the new owner started paying properly: https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=en&tab=legal https://register.epo.org/application?number=EP05100648&lng=e...
- Sir_Cmpwn 10y ago
  No Man's Sky was first publicly demoed in 2013. Seems suspect, this might be an opportunistic renewal hoping to collect rent.
  - jandrese 10y ago
    It is obviously rent seeking.
- MasterYoda 10y ago
  How is that possible? In that case, it feels like a loophole there people could just skip the annual fees until an opertunity to sue someone occurs and then pay for all the years at ones. Feels also strange a patent that have been withdrawn could be sold.

2bitencryption 10y ago

just to point out, NMS isn't PS4 exclusive, it is releasing on PC as well.

bluetidepro 10y ago
Oh, I actually didn't realize that! Good to know! :)

cs702 10y ago

Wait, mathematical functions are patentable!?

Jtsummers 10y ago
May not survive, but it's really their application that's patented. You can patent inventions and processes (how software patents came into being, and also how someone patented a "method for exercising cats" - a laser pointer mounted to a platform that moved it randomly).
- woliveirajr 10y ago
  In some countries you can't patent formulas or processes or even ideas...
  - Jtsummers 10y ago
    And, IMO, that's how it should be in the US. But it's not, not yet at least.
  - pkaye 10y ago
    In which countries? Seems like this particular patent is in the EU so that rules out the EU countries...
    - iamcreasy 10y ago
      In India you can't patent software. It has to be hardware related. Indian Patent Office issued it this year.
      - cyphar 10y ago
        Except that system can be counteracted by describing a CPU and then describing an algorithm. Richard Stallman had a talk about patents and mentioned the Indian system.