4 ms·

I think the real issue is there is an IP moat - Eink corporation was pretty much a monopoly which kept prices high and research and innovation spending low - bu

by vivekd 10y ago

I think the real issue is there is an IP moat - Eink corporation was pretty much a monopoly which kept prices high and research and innovation spending low - but the patent has been partially annulled in Germany so there might be more innovation in that field coming soon http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2015/03/02/german-court-finds-e-ink-patent-invalid-files-in-favor-of-trekstor/ http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2015/03/02/german-court-fin...

wuschel 10y ago
Very interesting, indeed. I thought that patent issues were a roadblock. Kudos to Trekstor to stand up for a fight, and thanks for the link. On the other hand, taken from the article: "overall quality of the screen wasn’t quite as good as E Ink, but it wasn’t very far off either".
- linuxkerneldev 10y ago
  > Kudos to Trekstor to stand up for a fight, and thanks for the link. I fear you may have misinterpreted that result. Trekstor doesn't make panels. They buy panels from OED Tech based in Shenzhen. OED Tech is actually a company started by former E Ink engineers who left Boston and moved to China. They were sued by E Ink because those guys just stole the chemical formulas and production processes. OED Tech even approached us (we buy E Ink panels) and promised to undercut their price. Competition is good but I kind of prefer genuine competition. I had high hopes for interferometric but Qualcomm shut that down.
  - shiven 10y ago
    Competition is good but I kind of prefer genuine competition. Except in the industries and product areas where IP is being used for land-grabs, rent-collection, little-to-none innovation and roadblocking any and all competition. In those cases (as E-Ink), I am glad there are still places in this world where people can continue to push the envelope and innovate to create better products for our species. IP be damned.
    - userbinator 10y ago
      There are apparently already a bunch of small companies in China making EPDs (electrophoretic display, the "generic name" and associated components; E-Ink is just one company/trademark) so the end of the monopoly may be near, and prices may drop enough to make them as commonly available as LCDs.
      - xeemzorz 10y ago
        I wouldn't count on it. There are still many manufacturing difficulties to overcome before making large format electrophoretics cheaper.
        wuschel 10y ago
        Interesting. Could you perhaps elaborate further, or point towards any sources re manufacturering difficulties?
echelon 10y ago
I hope the IP ownership loosens sooner than later. The cost of e-ink is ridiculous. A few months ago I wanted to design a picture frame-sized dashboard suitable for wall mounting, but the prices are exorbitant. I can't feasibly afford to build such a display.
bluejekyll 10y ago
Shouldn't the original patents be expiring soon anyway?
- xeemzorz 10y ago
  Patents are only a very small portion of IP value. A huge portion of knowledge is kept as trade secrets. It's not easy to manufacture epaper.

by vivekd 10y ago

wuschel 10y ago

Very interesting, indeed. I thought that patent issues were a roadblock. Kudos to Trekstor to stand up for a fight, and thanks for the link. On the other hand, taken from the article: "overall quality of the screen wasn’t quite as good as E Ink, but it wasn’t very far off either".

linuxkerneldev 10y ago
> Kudos to Trekstor to stand up for a fight, and thanks for the link. I fear you may have misinterpreted that result. Trekstor doesn't make panels. They buy panels from OED Tech based in Shenzhen. OED Tech is actually a company started by former E Ink engineers who left Boston and moved to China. They were sued by E Ink because those guys just stole the chemical formulas and production processes. OED Tech even approached us (we buy E Ink panels) and promised to undercut their price. Competition is good but I kind of prefer genuine competition. I had high hopes for interferometric but Qualcomm shut that down.
- shiven 10y ago
  Competition is good but I kind of prefer genuine competition. Except in the industries and product areas where IP is being used for land-grabs, rent-collection, little-to-none innovation and roadblocking any and all competition. In those cases (as E-Ink), I am glad there are still places in this world where people can continue to push the envelope and innovate to create better products for our species. IP be damned.
  - userbinator 10y ago
    There are apparently already a bunch of small companies in China making EPDs (electrophoretic display, the "generic name" and associated components; E-Ink is just one company/trademark) so the end of the monopoly may be near, and prices may drop enough to make them as commonly available as LCDs.
    - xeemzorz 10y ago
      I wouldn't count on it. There are still many manufacturing difficulties to overcome before making large format electrophoretics cheaper.
      - wuschel 10y ago
        Interesting. Could you perhaps elaborate further, or point towards any sources re manufacturering difficulties?

echelon 10y ago

I hope the IP ownership loosens sooner than later. The cost of e-ink is ridiculous. A few months ago I wanted to design a picture frame-sized dashboard suitable for wall mounting, but the prices are exorbitant. I can't feasibly afford to build such a display.

bluejekyll 10y ago

Shouldn't the original patents be expiring soon anyway?

xeemzorz 10y ago
Patents are only a very small portion of IP value. A huge portion of knowledge is kept as trade secrets. It's not easy to manufacture epaper.