Subject:
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Re: Lego patent issued
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.cad
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Date:
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Wed, 4 Sep 2002 15:59:31 GMT
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Viewed:
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647 times
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A better example would be a model which references a subfile on the plane of
an open hinge. The crux of the patent is transformation of a coordinate
system. Specifically an integer grid coordinate system. CAR.DAT doesn't have
anything like that (the headlight bricks notwithstanding) but I'm convinced
any number of mecha MPDs use the idea specified in the Lego patent.
However, LDRAW implements the general case; Lego have patented the special
case. This kind of hairsplitting difference is what matters to an examiner,
or so I'm informed.
Keep in mind that Lego's purpose in acquiring software patents is to sell
more toys while preventing their competitors from getting that sale.
I would guess that Lego would become intensely interested in their rights
under this ridiculous patent only when another toy company stepped in. For
example, Little Tykes patent USD307924 (1988) shows a toy block for ages 3-5
which transforms an integer coordinate system in reality (it's a 45 degree
slope roof piece) and they would be prevented by the patent to represent
this fact in software. Or send Little Tykes part updates over the Internet.
Assuming that Little Tykes wanted to get into this market.
(I am not really familiar with the product--I don't know if it's even made
anymore. See littletikes.com )
In lugnet.cad, Don Heyse writes:
> In lugnet.cad, Mike Walsh writes:
> > "Erik Olson" <erik@olson.pair.com> wrote in message
> > > Well folks, this is not cause for alarm, but Lego have got their software
> > > patent on how they store model files:
> > >
> > > US6389375: Virtual reality modelling
> > > Published 5/14/02 Filed 1/14/99
> > >
> > > The "novel idea" for which they have received patent protection is: in a
> > > data strcture (read: model file format) the location of a piece is
> > > represented by *integer* coordinates, plus a compact set of numbers
> > > indicating a transformation of that coordinate system.
> >
> > Storing database coordinates in integer format is pretty common in CAD
> > tools, at least in my industry (Electronic Design Automation). My company
> > (Mentor Graphics) sells one tool suite where the database in stored in
> > tenths of nanometers. Every coordinate is an integer (or series of
> > integers), just really big ones!
>
> I forced myself to read some more claims in the patent last night.
> Yuck! Look at claim number 19. They seem to be attempting to patent
> fetching parts on the fly over the internet. Something has to be done
> about this foolishness!
>
> How old is the car.dat file from the old time ldraw pages? Take a look
> inside it. What kind of numbers do you see? All integers. I'd say
> that's some prior art right there. The parts are all positioned at
> integer locations, however the parts themselves are described in
> floating point coordinates. That's the crux of the patent, and it
> was done long before filing date.
>
> Maybe they should hold patent examiners responsible for damages from
> invalidated patents. Then we wouldn't be able to find anyone to do
> the job and the whole system would collapse. Good riddance.
>
> Don
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Lego patent issued
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| (...) Well the integer coordinate system isn't forced on CAR.DAT, unless you want the parts to line up. Isn't the LDRAW stud spacing a published integer grid coordinate system used to position geometric (part) objects which are defined in a floating (...) (22 years ago, 4-Sep-02, to lugnet.cad)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Lego patent issued
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| (...) I forced myself to read some more claims in the patent last night. Yuck! Look at claim number 19. They seem to be attempting to patent fetching parts on the fly over the internet. Something has to be done about this foolishness! How old is the (...) (22 years ago, 4-Sep-02, to lugnet.cad)
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