Patent lawsuit...

[Adam Johnson]

AMEN JIM!!!

 

[Jason Rudd]

I think what's missing in all these dialogues about this patent lawsuit is a good discussion about the technicalities of the patent itself.

For example, Apple suing Samsung for "rounded corners" on their phone is pretty ridiculous - we can understand that. I love Apple - don't get me wrong. I love American companies and want all of them to stand up for their IP.

But I don't think many people grasp what the fight between RED vs Sony is actually about. So people naturally are against it - since (even though we are all lawsuit happy) - we hate the fact that we are so litigious. It would be great if someone could develop a fact sheet about it, to clear up RED's intentions. Something like the arguments and rebuttals they have in the PRO/CON pamphlets for California elections.

 

[robert browning]

I believe that some people are oversimplifying your lawsuit. There seems to be this generalization of 4K as your reason for feeling unjust. We don't know the intricacies of what you feel has been violated. I'm sure you there is a level of complexity to it that I probably would not begin to understand. Whatever the specifics, I'm sure you feel just in your cause.

 

[Robino_J]

I'm not religious but when someone takes your idea your supposed to give the other cheek and not smack back. Its a compliment if someone takes your idea. It makes you relevant. Ideas cant be taken anyways. Ideas are never new per se. They are a play on our cultural history and take it one step further....

You're such a good person...

Today I found out a software I created was being distributed on file sharing websites illegally. I feel like sh&t and have to deal with the issue. Jim is doing the right thing. Either you live in a fantasy world or I don't get your sarcasm.

 

[Elsie N]

Florian... this post really does make me want to retire.

...

Jim

Jim, don't suffer fools. Just pass over these few Kumbaya posters and know that the realists are with you and fully understand.

 

[Jannard]

This is a REDCODE RAW issue... one that many have acknowledged for years as a core invention of RED and incredibly important to what we all are doing.

Jim

 

[Nick Morrison]

Happy Valentine's Day (my date's going to kill me for posting from the restroom, don't tell)

PS. Best post ever.

 

[Paul Watt]

I read a lot here, and don't post often, but I gotta say, thieves suck. They really suck.

 

[Drew Mylrea]

It's tough. Competition is healthy for progress and when broad patents stifle competition, we all lose. It all comes down to what should be patentable...

This podcast is one of the best and smartest discussions on the topic I've ever heard (you may have to skip through the beginning). It's really worth a listen, would love to discuss - maybe in the off topic forum. I think the discussion we're having around the issue (both on Reduser and in the software industry) is important, if uncomfortable.

But Jim - We're all psyched to have Red Epics and don't want that to go away.

 

[Brian Boyer]

Regarding your flak, it's weird and I don't know quite when it happened but, somewhere along the line, people started to believe everything that's digital should be free and intellectual property should be open-source (also free).

Of course, Sony knows better than this but it seems many internet travelers do not.

 

[robert browning]

Ah, ok That certainly narrows it down. That is clearly a critical part of the the process. I wish you well in your fight.

 

[Jannard]

REDCODE RAW is not "rounded corners". It is fundamental to recording high resolution images on camera to small media. It is brilliant. And it is no surprise that others have finally figured out (several years later) that the only way to get where they need to go is through this path. Hindsight is spectacularly clear.

Jim

 

[Jannard]

I was given permission to post Geoff's response on CML:

"Guys, can we get a little perspective here. (I haven't joined in so far
because I've been shooting and not had a chance)


All of us here make a living from IP in one way or another.

That IP is not defended strongly enough anywhere in the world.

If RED are taking legal action to defend their IP then good on them and I
wish more companies would!

I'm sick of seeing copies of Arri lights, copies of Sachtler tripods, ideas
stolen from Transvideo and on and on.

4 million downloads of a movie before it's even released.

You're arguing about whether the idea of compressing RAW data at high
resolution and higher frame rates was original and patentable, well, a
patent as granted, now let the courts decide.

As for destroying every camera that infringes patents held by RED, I have to
say I'm in favour, I can't say anything else as I've publicly suggested that
customs in Europe should seize the knock off lighting and grip kit and crush
it.


We need to encourage people to innovate and develop the tools we use not to
copy.

I've knocked RED in the past, and will continue in the future when I think
they're wrong but in this case they should be supported for all kinds of
reasons.

We need innovators, look how stagnant our business was becoming before RED."



Cheers

Geoff Boyle FBKS
Cinematographer
EU Based

 

[Sulekh Suman]

Great post!

I was given permission to post Geoff's response on CML:

"Guys, can we get a little perspective here. (I haven't joined in so far
because I've been shooting and not had a chance)


All of us here make a living from IP in one way or another.

That IP is not defended strongly enough anywhere in the world.

If RED are taking legal action to defend their IP then good on them and I
wish more companies would!

I'm sick of seeing copies of Arri lights, copies of Sachtler tripods, ideas
stolen from Transvideo and on and on.

4 million downloads of a movie before it's even released.

You're arguing about whether the idea of compressing RAW data at high
resolution and higher frame rates was original and patentable, well, a
patent as granted, now let the courts decide.

As for destroying every camera that infringes patents held by RED, I have to
say I'm in favour, I can't say anything else as I've publicly suggested that
customs in Europe should seize the knock off lighting and grip kit and crush
it.


We need to encourage people to innovate and develop the tools we use not to
copy.

I've knocked RED in the past, and will continue in the future when I think
they're wrong but in this case they should be supported for all kinds of
reasons.

We need innovators, look how stagnant our business was becoming before RED."



Cheers

Geoff Boyle FBKS
Cinematographer
EU Based

 

[Jon Jones]

Like I've said. I don't agree with some of your tactics Jim and team. However I do agree that you have to fight for your company, and if anyone here says they wouldn't do the same thing.... Their lying. THat is IMHO of course...

 

[Robert Hart]

Weird writer's futile fertile imagination at rampant play.

Settlement terms. By the time the matter reaches a decision time has passed. Sony's professional division cannot afford the punitive damages. Sony instead offers to assign RED its remaining stock of F5 and F55 cameras to sell to recoup its settlement. RED becomes the premium Sony professional products vendor in the United States???????????????????

 

[Patrick Grossien]

Jim, keep on fighting for your IP! It's the right thing to do!

I don't want to have my investment devalued because of cheap copies.
I paid good money for a product of a company and their ideas and ideals in which I believe in.
I don't want to see their IP abused. Let Sony pay for licenses like everybody else is.
If not, they don't deserve to use it.

I'm sick of all this knock off stuff - remember that RED gunner rip off?

When I create I don't want to see my work copied. Sadly enough it happens - such is life. But at least with patents you have a good possibility to do something against it. It's harder with just plain art / design. Put on the gloves.

PS. Jim, I remember you writing about that this will happen with REDCODE RAW as soon as the others realise what you guys came up with. Now is the time. I wish you all the best and justice on your side.

 

[Rob Anderson]

Give 'em hell. We're all vested in this thing.

 

[Sam Taylor]

REDCODE RAW is not "rounded corners". It is fundamental to recording high resolution images on camera to small media. It is brilliant. And it is no surprise that others have finally figured out (several years later) that the only way to get where they need to go is through this path. Hindsight is spectacularly clear.

Jim

Redcode raw is totally brilliant, its crucial, and I can really understand why others would want to copy aspects of it. I really hope you win!!!

 

[Detlev Eller]

Bingo!

... now, in a culture of common thievery (see digital entertainment downloads in general as well as software piracy), how does the underdog go and introduce truly original and innovative technology?

Blessed are the RED clients, to have an innovator at the front, with the drive to set things straight, the experience, foresight and means to protect the IP in the beginning, when it is the only point in time that "uniqueness" is visible.

The common notion that inventions and brilliant ideas belong to society as a whole rather then being brought to market by the inventor in the form of products and services is completely ridiculous and insane.

Patents are expensive. Ingenuity exists, although many prefer to believe in "originality as a myth".

Living on the web, i see malfunction everywhere, the biggest brand names are victim of the wrong believe system.

There is a better technology, invented, originated years ago, standard conform, perfected, working in blood and sweat, a price paid no "thieve" would ever be willing to pay nor would be capable to conceive or achieve the result.

But when its out, everyone will make it his own invention, especially the ones looking stupid proclaiming the sufficiency of the status quo, basically only saving their own butts in fear of survival.

I know what i am speaking about, i am the inventor of said technology and it makes me sad, it is not released to do good - to everyone. I can´t even fully help out friends with it or use it for my own, because i would loose all patent filing rights.

This is the reality, a reflection of our society, the attitude to intellectual property and patents.

There are two solutions to the problem - either society remembers to be grateful to its inventors, engineers and artists and we would need no law or whoever can shall fight for his IP rights.

I was given permission to post Geoff's response on CML:
t
"Guys, can we get a little perspective here. (I haven't joined in so far
because I've been shooting and not had a chance)


All of us here make a living from IP in one way or another.

That IP is not defended strongly enough anywhere in the world.

If RED are taking legal action to defend their IP then good on them and I
wish more companies would!

I'm sick of seeing copies of Arri lights, copies of Sachtler tripods, ideas
stolen from Transvideo and on and on.

4 million downloads of a movie before it's even released.

You're arguing about whether the idea of compressing RAW data at high
resolution and higher frame rates was original and patentable, well, a
patent as granted, now let the courts decide.

As for destroying every camera that infringes patents held by RED, I have to
say I'm in favour, I can't say anything else as I've publicly suggested that
customs in Europe should seize the knock off lighting and grip kit and crush
it.


We need to encourage people to innovate and develop the tools we use not to
copy.

I've knocked RED in the past, and will continue in the future when I think
they're wrong but in this case they should be supported for all kinds of
reasons.

We need innovators, look how stagnant our business was becoming before RED."



Cheers

Geoff Boyle FBKS
Cinematographer
EU Based