Massive damage dealt to PS3, lawsuit demands

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jul 31st 2007 at 12:08PM }

California-based Parallel Processing Corporation has filed suit against Sony, alleging that the Cell microprocessor infringes upon a 1991 patent licensed by Parallel Processing Corp for "synchronized parallel processing with shared memory." The lawsuit cites "irreparable harm and monetary damage" and seeks a pile o' cash, attorney's fees, and um ... immediate impounding and destruction of all Sony products that utilize Cell technology, or simply, PlayStation 3.

[Via PS3Fanboy]

Tags: cell, GiantEnemyCrab, lawsuit, legal

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

TROJAN MAN 077 @ Aug 16th 2007 1:04AM

Ouch, if only Sony had someone that could actually pay a bunch a money for them. Oh, say M'soft. LOL This is when PS360 is born. LOL LOL That suck sony fans.

Arno @ Jul 31st 2007 12:11PM

Hmmm, hopefully they do destroy all those darned PS3s. :)

FrankTheCrank @ Jul 31st 2007 1:35PM

**CAUTION**

PATENT TROLLS ON THE LOOSE.

If you read into this a bit more, you'll find out that this Parallel Processing Corp are just a bunch of PATENT TROLLS. If they can put get a settlement out of Sony, they might use that to go after IBM and Intel. Seems they don't have the money to go after the big boys, so they started with Sony.

Check the Arstechnica article. Good read.

Steve @ Jul 31st 2007 12:12PM

That picture is priceless.

Zertoss @ Jul 31st 2007 12:17PM

I agree, great pic.

Kinda funny how often Sony seems to run afoul of patent infringement when you consider the fact that their music division helps fight tooth-and-nail against the theft of intellectual property.

Still, seeking the destruction of every PS3 seems like a bit much. I don't see that happening.

Grindstone @ Jul 31st 2007 4:53PM

That is a good pic -- and that guy has the worst case of crabs I have ever seen.

I am really sick of all these lawsuits within the gaming industry, and I say that within the confines of the lawfirm where I work (and surf the net). Can't we all just get along?

James @ Jul 31st 2007 4:56PM

thanks dudes! i was kinda worried y'all would deem it 'played out' ... guess not. =)

Collie @ Jul 31st 2007 6:03PM

Great pic. A fresh pick on a priceless classic.

treeki @ Aug 4th 2007 6:21PM

I agree. Who -doesn't- like a crab holding $600? :P

Ali @ Jul 31st 2007 12:13PM

Hey seems Microsoft is free with there money, to push for all these lawsuits.

Of course this can only happen in the Sue all mentality that you have with the US.

Andrew Yoon @ Jul 31st 2007 12:13PM

BEST PICTURE EVAR

3cubedminus3squared @ Jul 31st 2007 12:13PM

I like that picture.
It would be funny, yet sad if they won.
Could you imagine getting a postcard saying your PS3 has been recalled?

Irresponsible Robot @ Jul 31st 2007 4:09PM

I hope Sony can shake this one off.

My roommate will be inconsolable if he loses his PS3, and my 360 would be lonely too. The two consoles are such good friends.

Fernando Rocker @ Jul 31st 2007 12:14PM

Thats a very awesome picture

Hobo Joe @ Jul 31st 2007 12:15PM

Lawsuit whatever, where the hell did you get that picture, you handsome man, you?

marcandrer @ Jul 31st 2007 12:16PM

well at least the recall would not be for something defective.. like something involving a ring which is red.

BIGGEN @ Jul 31st 2007 12:50PM

and yet another jack ass slips something in about the MS issue. come up with something original dude, like, how you and your mom are mother and father to your little brother. HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Phranctoast @ Jul 31st 2007 12:16PM

Funny how only Sonys is mentioned. IBM who??????

BPM @ Jul 31st 2007 12:49PM

Yeah, why are they going after Sony? IBM makes the Cell...

Dan @ Jul 31st 2007 12:54PM

Yeah, wtf is that about, IBM made the cell, how are sony culpable for patent infringement, and what about all the other companies who use the cell in their products?

OhJustSomeRandomGuy @ Jul 31st 2007 1:36PM

Doesn't every multiprocessor/multicore CPU violate this patent now?

Laaaaaame.

liqwid @ Jul 31st 2007 2:28PM

STI Cell was a joint venture with Sony/Toshiba/IBM (STI).

Jeff @ Jul 31st 2007 12:17PM

I despise the U.S patent system.

Truepatriot @ Jul 31st 2007 12:31PM

yup! you have tons of people who make a living patenting
everything in sight and suing companies one it becomes popular.
that goes for trademarks too.the birthday song is illegal to use with out paying the trademark holder....

Truepatriot @ Jul 31st 2007 12:31PM

yup! you have tons of people who make a living patenting
everything in sight and suing companies once it becomes popular.
that goes for trademarks too.the birthday song is illegal to use with out paying the trademark holder....

Ali @ Jul 31st 2007 12:21PM

lol they have patents for compact disks and graphics cards.

Perhaps they should have a patent for air as well and sue everyone.

melloncollie @ Jul 31st 2007 12:31PM

Why?
It wouldn't be like we're making air and selling it.
We just consume it.

Mabui @ Jul 31st 2007 12:47PM

They charge to distribute air, or have "air pressure" devices, that aren't registered under your air trademark! As well as oxygen machines, and scuba tanks

emagius @ Jul 31st 2007 1:06PM

If you invented something, how else would you prevent others from copying it? Patents, though they only last 20 years and apply very specifically to particular claims, are pretty much all you've got (trade secrets are worthless for electronics).

eM @ Jul 31st 2007 1:09PM

Crono @ Jul 31st 2007 2:44PM

Unless I missed something, patents in the US only last 7 years before having to be renewed.

NekoMode @ Jul 31st 2007 7:08PM

Patents were SUPPOSED to only last 20 years. That was supposed to be enough time for you to make your money and then let your technology advance society. Now it lasts a lifetime + 70 years or some other ridiculous length of time. You can thank Disney for that and their inability to create original contents for extending the patent length. With trusts and all that now patents canb e held indefinably if they keep renewing them.

Paviel @ Jul 31st 2007 12:21PM

My two cents say that this lawsuit is going nowhere...

DarthDavid @ Jul 31st 2007 12:23PM

This pic makes me think about Homer drinking that can of Crab Juice!!! "Moutain Dew of Crab Juice? Euuuugh! I'll take a Crab Juice."

fffunfarm06---xbl @ Jul 31st 2007 12:23PM

god i hope they dont win. i got to have mgs4 and killsone, and god of war 3, and gt5, and little big planet. :(
i hate the us patent system too. i mean come on, they are talking about a patent almost 17 years ago, back when the snes just took off. :(
and i love all systems. no product loyalty for me.

Jouten @ Jul 31st 2007 1:00PM

god i hope they dont win. i got to have mgs4 and killsone, and god of war 3, and gt5, and little big planet. :(

Don't worry, they will port it over to the 360 so you will still have your HD goodness of those games. Maybe it will be even better at 60fps! =P

Just kidding! This is definitely something to watch out for.

DarthDavid @ Jul 31st 2007 12:25PM

This pic makes me think about Homer drinking that can of Crab Juice!!! "Moutain Dew of Crab Juice? Euuuugh! I'll take a Crab Juice."

chispito @ Jul 31st 2007 12:25PM

PR stunt much? You can't sue everyone who bought a PS3 to have them destroyed, because those people didn't do anything wrong. I really kind of hate Sony but this is just lame and Sony should counter sue after it's over and send thsi company under for wasting their time and that of the federal government.

Ihya @ Jul 31st 2007 12:27PM

When will this fucking bullshit end.

What are the odds this company doesn't even make anything? I mean if your company is named after your patent, what are the odds?

sambo @ Jul 31st 2007 12:30PM

too bad the cell is an IBM product.

Dave Silva @ Jul 31st 2007 12:33PM

Wait, how does this make sense?

I mean isn't this what Dual / Multiple Core processors on standard PCs are, as well? Aren't they infringing this so-called "patent" too? Why go against Sony?

eM @ Jul 31st 2007 1:10PM

Read the patent. It doesn't apply to all of parallel processing, only to a very specific invention that PPC believes Sony infringed upon.

Joshua @ Jul 31st 2007 12:37PM

What a freaking joke. I hate all these damn lawsuits.

penas @ Jul 31st 2007 12:37PM

GIANT ENEMY CRAB! MUST FILE A LAW SUIT FOR MASSIVE DAMAGE!

BUT WAIT! THE CRAB IS ON TOP OF SOMETHING! ITS A......

riiiiiddggggeeee raaaaccceeeerrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

SDF ASSEMBLE!

AirIntake @ Jul 31st 2007 12:45PM

Ahh, the beauty of American bullshit patents.

GodisaMyth @ Jul 31st 2007 12:48PM

Bullshit.

This company has some of the most ridiculous patents out there. If you go to their website...you will see that this is laughable and will NEVER happen.

Fracking Texas...Please seceed from the U.S. Better yet, let the entire backasswords south suceed.

Damn you Lincoln....you couldn't just let those babies go could you.