TSMC Accuses GlobalFoundries of Infringing 25 Patents For Node Processes (zdnet.com) 11
AmiMoJo quotes ZDNet:
Semiconductor manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd (TSMC) has filed multiple lawsuits against its competitor GlobalFoundries, saying the US company allegedly infringed upon 25 patents related to its node processes. TSMC said on Monday that the lawsuits are seeking injunctions to stop GlobalFoundries from manufacturing and selling semiconductor products that allegedly infringe upon the patents in question...
The 25 TSMC patents in the complaints relate to technologies such as FinFET designs, shallow trench isolation techniques, double patterning methods, advanced seal rings and gate structures, and innovative contact etch stop layer designs, TSMC said. These technologies are used to create TSMC's 40nm, 28nm, 22nm, 14nm, and 12nm node processes.
The 25 TSMC patents in the complaints relate to technologies such as FinFET designs, shallow trench isolation techniques, double patterning methods, advanced seal rings and gate structures, and innovative contact etch stop layer designs, TSMC said. These technologies are used to create TSMC's 40nm, 28nm, 22nm, 14nm, and 12nm node processes.
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Well, it IS acceptable. If it wasn't, then the law would reflect that and they'd be fined or jailed.
The fact that it isn't acceptable to YOU or US is a whole different matter.
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Then the question is also if the patents actually have a level of quality that actually is making them valid or if they can be dismissed due to being too obvious.
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If you want money, WORK FOR IT.
They are. They researched and perfected a method, patented it, then put it into practice. It's the company that stole from them that decided they could just skip that whole first part.
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Unless, of course, both parties put in the hard work and come up with a similar answer. Then IP laws pick a winner and the loser isn't allowed to benefit from their hard work.
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Well, but if I understand correctly this suit was launched in retaliation for a similar suit against TSMC by Global Foundaries. Only Global Foundaries didn't have nearly as many patents, and only sued in US courts, so they could only ask that importation be prohibited, not that manufacture cease.
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Hardware patents, when properly vetted and enforced are a very strong incentive for invention and innovation.
The problem we've had with patent trolls and international enforcement stems from issues with the vetting process and enforcement oversight. These issues could be fixed, potentially saving the US economy billions a year, if anyone was motivated to fix them. I bet the patent enforcement issues that have arisen in the trade dispute with China could be easily settled if the US had a better managed paten
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An underlying problem is the existence of software patents, which clutter the system and make it vulnerable to abuse.
Re:This whole "i.p." shit has to stop. (Score:4, Insightful)
The flip side of that is that most people want to be consumers, not investors. I want to read some reviews and either buy the book or not. Buy a ticket to watch the movie or not. Go to the concert or not. I don't want to pay for ideas, drafts, concept art or raw takes and babysit the process from loose plans to finished product. It's a huge risk that the project won't finish because of legitimate or illegitimate reasons or go in directions I'm not happy with or go over budget and hustle you for even more money to deliver and the people behind it are equally at the mercy of an Internet mob that can turn on them at any moment. Plus all the dynamics where people turn it into a waiting game to see if they can get anyone else to pay for it or if the author is now so committed to finishing for his fans that you can stop paying and a host of other unhealthy effects.
The practical effect of ending IP would be a massive shift from mass produced content for the masses to individually commissioned work by a few fat cats. Not that there's something inherently wrong with that, you have that on Patreon etc. but try looking at the prices of a commissioned work compared to mass produced content. It's like trying to compare what a copy of Photoshop costs compared to getting someone to turn GIMP into Photoshop. None of us wants to bear that cost alone. I'm not going to pay for "service and support" for Angry Birds, I know some people here like to think there'll always be some extra service like merchandising or whatever that'll somehow get around this problem but for the most part there really isn't. We've long since established that no, the liner notes weren't that important just give me the damn song on a streaming service please.