Ultra Finally laying down the law?

[Stormcrow]

Really odd, since Hiper's Type-R was one of the first mainstream modulars.
It doesn't matter who first created the design, it matters to whom holds the patent. Of course I see this about as logical as Motrin sueing people for making generic Ibuprofen, or IBM suing people for making a buckling spring design keyboard.

[gvblake22]

HAHA, you're right Zambini. This whole thing is ridiculous, I doubt it will ever go through.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Capper

As to the Tech Sector being a "close knit" community....its really far from it....its a cut throat business.

Close knit as in everyone knows everyone. Basically meaning you don't shit on other companys' lawns with half baked lawsuits.

[jonnyGURU]

Originally Posted by garetjax

Pathetic. Ultra isn't going to be making friends over this for sure. I'm not sure how a company can sue other companies for making modular power supplies? The lawsuit specifies "intellectual property" but modding a PSU so that it's modular isn't exactly new or hard to do... enthusiasts have been doing it for years. Case in point is FrozenCPU, who, as far as I know, has been modding PSUs far longer than Ultra has been providing PSUs as being modular.

The computer tech world is a tight knit community. I wouldn't be suprised to see if there wasn't some sort of backlash over this.

Try reading the patent... or better yet, the ITC complaint which contains the patent and all of the exhibits.

Modding a PSU so that's it's modular isn't exactly new or hard to do. But Ultra didn't patent the concept of modular power supplies. I'm not sure why everyone thinks that right off the bat and doesn't even bother to read the patent. What's patented is the modular interface, with it's modular connectors, on the housing of the PSU.

So yeah, it's "easy" to mod a PSU to be modular, much like Performance-PC's unit, but when's the last time you heard about a modder that cut a hole in the PSU housing, molded their own plastic interface panel to fit into the hole and attach connectors for all of the DC output for the cables to plug into? Anyone? No? That's what I thought.

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

Really odd, since Hiper's Type-R was one of the first mainstream modulars.

The patent was filed for back in 2004. That's way before Hiper. The patent wasn't ISSUED until late 2006.

It's like time stands still on the Internet. People can't do simple research and establish time-lines. Maybe one of the tubes is clogged or something.

Anyhoo... I hope this gets thrown out. I support the fact that Ultra had an idea and patented it, but the cost to other companies that "licensing fees" are going to incur is going to raise the price of modular power supplies. Who knows... maybe some lawyer will find a loop hole and half of the defendents will be "safe". On the other hand, worse thing that could happen is we all end up paying $5 to $10 more for a power supply because of the built in licensing fee... I guess that's not really all "that bad". I just feel bad for all of the legal fees both sides are going to end up paying for win or lose. If anyone in this world doesn't deserve the extra money, it's the lawyers!

[Stormcrow]

Considering the Type-R 580w Modular came out around the summer of 2005, I couldn't call it way before. And notice "one of the first mainstream modulars", when others where starting to jump onto into the scene as well. Holier-then-thou much?

[stinger608]

Easy guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a discussion, not a political debate

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

The patent was filed for back in 2004. That's way before Hiper.

It is? Funny, Hiper's been around since 2001...

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

It's like time stands still on the Internet. People can't do simple research and establish time-lines. Maybe one of the tubes is clogged or something.

Irony at its finest, folks.

[Stormcrow]

Originally Posted by stinger608

Easy guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a discussion, not a political debate

[jonnyGURU]

Originally Posted by garetjax

It is? Funny, Hiper's been around since 2001...

Irony at its finest, folks. Perhaps you should ensure that your tubes aren't clogged or something. After all researching and establishing time-lines goes a long way...

I never meant to imply that Hiper wasn't around prior to 2004 and I think you know that. Stormcrow is correct, summer of 2005 is when the Type-R, Hiper's first modular, came out. We're talking about modular power supplies. Not the birth of a company. Suck it up. Calling me out on not using an apostrophe S after the word "Hiper" is the best you can do?

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

Considering the Type-R 580w Modular came out around the summer of 2005, I couldn't call it way before. And notice "one of the first mainstream modulars", when others where starting to jump onto into the scene as well. Holier-then-thou much?

Sure I am. Why not. So because it was "only" 1.5 years later, that changes everything? I still don't consider it "one of the first" since even Antec had modular PSU's out prior to Hiper. It still doesn't change the fact that it was AFTER the Ultra and AFTER the patent was applied for.

Look... I'm not saying I'm smarter or better than anyone... but ever since I first posted this as "news" on my site (after stumbling across it while I was researching contacting their lawyer about licensing fees myself) everyone has been jumping on the same dogpile without reading the patent first. It's always the same: "modularity isn't new", "you can't patent that", "they weren't first". It doesn't take much research to realize that the patent is legit. Doesn't mean it doesn't SUCK. Doesn't mean that it's going to earn them any brownie points. But the patent is legit and all of the "boo hoo's" I hear are totally without foundation.

Like I said, I want this thing to go away as much as anyone else. People always ask me why the BFG ES-800 isn't modular. "Ummm... Because I didn't want to get SUED, thanks!" But if this remains in light and in the arena of public opinion, it's going to be easier to follow and gauge the outcome and hopefully it will move along quickly and we can all get on with life.

I'm not calling anyone stupid or anything, so nobody should be offended. I'm just saying before someone draws a conclusion they should know all of the facts. And I agree that the legalese that these patents are written in can be hard to understand, so if there's questions about something, one should ask and not jump to conclusions based on false or inaccurate assumptions. Ok?

[Stormcrow]

Originally Posted by Stormcrow

It doesn't matter who first created the design, it matters to whom holds the patent.