Aquarium LED Lighting under siege

[prattreef]

This was just posted by Jake Adams on the Reef Builders site:

http://www.reefbuilders.com/2009/02/03/big-trouble-brewing-future-aquarium-leds/#more-4332

I have been aware of this for some time, and the account is accurate. Sad, sad, stuff IMO. And yes our good MR friend Joy was one of the ones let go

 

[masterswimmer]

Randy thanks for bringing this to our attention. I cannot believe that a patent can effect the entire LED involvement within reefkeeping. That patent seems awfully broad, IMO.

Best of luck to Joy.

swimmer

 

[boozeman]

This has been brewing for quite some time.

 

[Killerdrgn]

This is really what is wrong with the american patent system right now.

 

[Quang]

wow, that really pisses me off.

 

[Killerdrgn]

wow, that really pisses me off.

It's really not surprising though, it's not the first case where a BS patent was filed just for monetary gain.

You should look up the patent lawsuit against Guitar Hero.

 

[fernandokng]

Maybe this will push all the DIYers to really get together and make it so that it's available for everyone :-0

 

[Domboski]

For those of you interested or selling LEDs you should read the following link: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...50&s1=7220018.PN.&OS=PN/7220018&RS=PN/7220018

 

[jhale]

Am I off base or is that a bullsh!t patent. They have patented the idea of using a light source they did not invent for the specific application of growing marine life. How does that get by the USTPO ? All they did was make an enclosure and controller for LEDS, they did not 'invent' anything new.

 

[reefman]

i should've patent the internet.
does that mean no one can sell led lighting now?

 

[alrha]

Question now is for those interested in LED lighting if it is worth buying a current fixture on the market or waiting till this issue is resolved.

 

[prattreef]

i should've patent the internet.
does that mean no one can sell led lighting now?

It depends how the law suit is resolved. If PFO loses, then all other manufacturers of similar products will be potentially subject to being sued and few would risk it IMO. The company likely has no interest in producing stuff for the aquarium industry, but could ask for a licensing fee which would only make the price increase for consumers. :irked:

 

[Timbo]

This is a bunch of BS!!!!! I don't see how they could win the lawsuit?

 

[jejton]

I'm not a lawyer or have any knowledge in-depth knowledge about patents but I do know that for a lawsuit to go through, or for a lawyer to take it on ( read: risk wasting their time and money by taking an unwinnable lawsuit ) a suit has to have some merit, regardless of the ethics involved. Its easy to harp on the compay involved but we really dont know the details of the case or the other side - just what we read in this article. For the benefit of the doubt, if this was a Chinese knock off company being suit by an American inventor for patent infringement, we'd all be jumping down the throats of the defending lawyer, so lets at least try to get all the facts before coming to a conclusion.

 

[jhale]

Question now is for those interested in LED lighting if it is worth buying a current fixture on the market or waiting till this issue is resolved.

now might be the only time to buy one. as Randy said if PFO looses then that sets a bad precedent for the rest of the industry.

 

[Keith P]

Wow. So what can we do as reefers to help??

 

[reefman]

dont buy led. let them waste their patent $ plus whoever they paid off getting the patent.

 

[18oreefer]

Wow. So what can we do as reefers to help??

I dont know about you guys but i sent an email to bob and marty like it suggested. Here are there emails again in case anyone else would like to voice there opinion [email protected] bob [email protected] marty. Lets fill there inbox!

 

[MikeyZO]

Am I off base or is that a bullsh!t patent. They have patented the idea of using a light source they did not invent for the specific application of growing marine life. How does that get by the USTPO ? All they did was make an enclosure and controller for LEDS, they did not 'invent' anything new.

Its an odd thing, but the patent office will indeed let you patent ideas you have that are somewhat feasible in nature. I've even heard of some that are rather unfeesable. Im not exactly sure why they allow it, suffice to say it probably has something to do with going back to when the patent office first started, to allow the little guy who had a great idea but no capital to fund it the opportunity to patent it and then look for investors, rather then pitching it to an investor with no patent and then they steal the ideas for themselves. I guess the same can hold true for today, which is why it was never changed. Gay, but true.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

:scratchch