Kindles and Nooks off the Market?

[3113]

Probably not, but there is a court battle over the devices:

Copytele, a company that licenses out its patents to other companies, has filed a lawsuit that in part seeks for the company E Ink, which makes the technology behind e-readers like the Kindle and Nook’s screens, to stop production of those displays. Copytele claims E Ink illegally obtained the patents required to make them. Because E Ink is the only company that makes those screens, this could mean that Kindles and Nooks go off the market, at least for some period of time.

Full story here.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Probably not, but there is a court battle over the devices:

Full story here.

I confess to a mild bout of schadenfreude there. Amazon is no White Night, after all.

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

It may be a problem for Amazon and the Kindle. Not so much for the Nook I think. The Nook has only a single device that uses E Ink to the best of my knowledge. I doubt any of the color devices use E Ink. I know my wife's Nook Color doesn't.

I like my Kindle, early model, and don't think they will come and confiscate it.

Mike

 

[PennLady]

It may be a problem for Amazon and the Kindle. Not so much for the Nook I think. The Nook has only a single device that uses E Ink to the best of my knowledge. I doubt any of the color devices use E Ink. I know my wife's Nook Color doesn't.

I like my Kindle, early model, and don't think they will come and confiscate it.

Mike

There might be a couple of Nooks now that have the E Ink screen, but I'm not sure. My soon also has a NookColor so it doesn't apply there. I have a 3d Gen Kindle (I think) and yes, I don't think they'll be coming for it. I actually love the E Ink screen. So much easier on the eyes.

 

[Ironiclaconic]

No way the plaintiff wants the Kindle off the market. They want a share of the sales, which would be hurt if the product was removed from the market. They might be asking for an injunction on sales, but that would just be to get Amazon to settle.

 

[3113]

No way the plaintiff wants the Kindle off the market. They want a share of the sales, which would be hurt if the product was removed from the market. They might be asking for an injunction on sales, but that would just be to get Amazon to settle.

Oh, undoubtedly. The question is whether they can (and will have to) put sales on hold in order to get what they want. Again, I rather doubt they can or if they can that they'll have to. But as e-book people, it's news worth noting.

 

[sr71plt]

Guess I can put off for a while the decision which reader to get--assuming I can convince myself I need one at all.

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, undoubtedly. The question is whether they can (and will have to) put sales on hold in order to get what they want. Again, I rather doubt they can or if they can that they'll have to. But as e-book people, it's news worth noting.

Or it could be mostly a gimmick to panic buyers to buy now. In any event any settlement costs will be pushed on to the buyer.

 

[DeeZire]

There's an entire industry based on challenging patents in the tech sector. That's what I would guess is going on here.

 

[lovecraft68]

No way the plaintiff wants the Kindle off the market. They want a share of the sales, which would be hurt if the product was removed from the market. They might be asking for an injunction on sales, but that would just be to get Amazon to settle.

Yes.

Amazon will pony up and the plaintiff will be happy as a pig in shit especially if the deal includes percentages of future sales