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Post by socalsad on May 21, 2011 23:20:25 GMT -5
Atari dropped Cryptic on May 17 th as we all know . However , on May 16th , Cryptic was sued : I doubt that it's a coincidence Atari dropped them a day later . dockets.justia.com/search?query=Cryptic&state=delawareedit : Yes Caine , I hope you are right , it's the fact that Cryptic was served the day before Atari dropped them that worries me . edit 2: It would appear they also sued Atari for the same thing . Perhaps Atari didn't want to cover potential legal fees and cut Cryptic loose ? Does anyone know anything about patent law , and how potentially harmful this could be for the game's future ? I'm starting to worry . Also , please do not re-post this on the main boards , anyone . I'm pretty sure it would be against the rules .
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Post by AngelOfCaine on May 22, 2011 0:11:05 GMT -5
Methinks it's just a LITTLE bit more than that It seems that "Walker Digital LLC" has a Patent on what appears to be the code representing CO's "Mini-Map/Globe" geometry. And to take a shot at the BIG FISH in the pond, they had to bring grievence against all the little fish... ..Of which Cryptic appears to be one.
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Post by pax on May 22, 2011 3:55:05 GMT -5
Why do I have the sudden, sneaking suspicion that "Walker Digital LLC" is one of those "file a bazillion vague technology patents, wait a few years, then sue everyone under the sun after they have proven-to-be-valuable properties, parts of which might fall under our overly-broad umbrella patent" sort of companies ...??
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Post by socalsad on May 22, 2011 4:08:35 GMT -5
Why do I have the sudden, sneaking suspicion that "Walker Digital LLC" is one of those "file a bazillion vague technology patents, wait a few years, then sue everyone under the sun after they have proven-to-be-valuable properties, parts of which might fall under our overly-broad umbrella patent" sort of companies ...?? Because after taking an overall look at the company : 1. That sounds like an excellent long term strategy for a company of that nature . 2 . They are taking on Disney . Strikes me just now how strange that idea would have seemed 20 years ago . Back on topic , they are taking on Disney . Holy crap they are taking on Disney !
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Post by melkathi on May 22, 2011 4:10:45 GMT -5
Methinks it's just a LITTLE bit more than that It seems that "Walker Digital LLC" has a Patent on what appears to be the code representing CO's "Mini-Map/Globe" geometry. And to take a shot at the BIG FISH in the pond, they had to bring grievence against all the little fish... ..Of which Cryptic appears to be one. Just Disney as big fish? Microsoft, Apple, Google, Activision Blizzard... They are suing everybody to ever use a digital map.
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Post by socalsad on May 22, 2011 4:22:31 GMT -5
Methinks it's just a LITTLE bit more than that It seems that "Walker Digital LLC" has a Patent on what appears to be the code representing CO's "Mini-Map/Globe" geometry. And to take a shot at the BIG FISH in the pond, they had to bring grievence against all the little fish... ..Of which Cryptic appears to be one. Just Disney as big fish? Microsoft, Apple, Google, Activision Blizzard... They are suing everybody to ever use a digital map. We're gonna need a bigger boat ! Sorry , it was on my bucket list , wanted to say it or type it just once , the opportunity was there . Thanks mel !
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Post by MothersLove on May 22, 2011 7:55:01 GMT -5
They are idiots with delusions of grandeur. That was May... look what they've tried before;
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Post by AngelOfCaine on May 22, 2011 15:48:07 GMT -5
Methinks it's just a LITTLE bit more than that It seems that "Walker Digital LLC" has a Patent on what appears to be the code representing CO's "Mini-Map/Globe" geometry. And to take a shot at the BIG FISH in the pond, they had to bring grievence against all the little fish... ..Of which Cryptic appears to be one. Just Disney as big fish? Microsoft, Apple, Google, Activision Blizzard... They are suing everybody to ever use a digital map. I wasn't casually familiar with the other(s) parent company ownership(s) ;D I am now
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Post by Pion on May 23, 2011 10:28:08 GMT -5
oh man just a cursory google of these tools shows that Jay Walker is basically asking to be legally hammered.
From the brief glance I took it seems Mr. Walker believes that all these companies are using technology that his company helped develop in the past decade and a half or something, and is suing for infringement.
I don't see this going his way unless he's got some serious evidence to back him up.
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Post by speedknob on May 23, 2011 12:44:48 GMT -5
Filed in DE, where I live . . . wonder if I can get any skinny on this.
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Post by Roxstar on May 23, 2011 16:09:59 GMT -5
Are you serious? Being sued for a digital map? I guess I'm not quite understanding the lawsuit because hasn't there been digital maps in games for years? By a lot more companies than listed in the lawsuit??
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slitrobo
Superhero
You still play video games?
Posts: 115
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Post by slitrobo on May 23, 2011 18:57:27 GMT -5
Are you serious? Being sued for a digital map? I guess I'm not quite understanding the lawsuit because hasn't there been digital maps in games for years? By a lot more companies than listed in the lawsuit?? They only need one lawsuit to stick to make off with someone's money.
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Post by Admin on May 23, 2011 19:22:45 GMT -5
After reading up on this subject, the title of the original article is misleading. Atari isnt "dropping" Cryptic, they are selling Cryptic. Atari has stated that they will continue to support Cryptic and its game until it has been sold, and after that the buyer will do so. So Cryptic isnt being "dropped", its being sold.
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Post by isometry on May 23, 2011 19:40:14 GMT -5
After reading up on this subject, the title of the original article is misleading. Atari isnt "dropping" Cryptic, they are selling Cryptic. Atari has stated that they will continue to support Cryptic and its game until it has been sold, and after that the buyer will do so. So Cryptic isnt being "dropped", its being sold. One of the meanings of "drop" is: "to break off an association or connection with" applies, although following the example this meaning implies that the thing being "dropped" underperformed relative to expectations, which is justified by the way the report describes Cryptic losing money. This also fits the reporting of the event in PC Gamer (italics added):
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Post by Admin on May 23, 2011 19:51:54 GMT -5
After reading up on this subject, the title of the original article is misleading. Atari isnt "dropping" Cryptic, they are selling Cryptic. Atari has stated that they will continue to support Cryptic and its game until it has been sold, and after that the buyer will do so. So Cryptic isnt being "dropped", its being sold. One of the meanings of "drop" is: "to break off an association or connection with" applies, although following the example this meaning implies that the thing being "dropped" underperformed relative to expectations, which is justified by the way the report describes Cryptic losing money. This also fits the reporting of the event in PC Gamer (italics added): Regardless of semantics, either way Cryptic is being sold. Atari has promised continued support until that happens, and any new buyer will do so afterwards. Regarding the loss, that too is misleading. Read these posts for more info: forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=3554332#post3554332forums.startrekonline.com/showthread.php?p=3554404#post3554404Its not that Cryptic actually lost money, its that Atari had promised to pay Cryptic a big bonus after the games had released, and doing so put Atari in the red. However, if Atari had not had to pay Cryptic that bonus they would have shown a profit.
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