RED Camera Lawsuits

We were told in these forums that Europeans don't sue each other, but that shouldn't stop the Americans & Japanese doing battle. Fresh off their fight with Arri, rosy cheeked young stripling RED has taken on the Goliath, Sony.

Interesting to see how this thing plays out...

nofilmschool.com/2013/02/red-sues-arri-s...chool+(NoFilmSchool)


(yes I know Arri is European, but apparently that lawsuit ended amicably)


Here's a bit more info on what exactly Sony is alleged to have stolen, including a well worded response from RED President Jim Jannard. (a lively discussion follows)

nofilmschool.com/2013/02/red-ceo-jim-jan...chool+(NoFilmSchool)


For the more technically minded, some specifics on the patent details behind the suit.

nofilmschool.com/2013/02/more-jim-jannar...chool+(NoFilmSchool)

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve", is the quote attributed to Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto after the attack on the US Pearl Harbor. Whether he actually said it or not is irrelevant, because it summed up the Admirals general feeling after the attack.

I wonder what sort of patents Sony has hidden away in their arsenal? I wonder if that old monolithic giant will be woken?

Two can play that game, and as usual the only winners will be the lawyers. Why they must be rubbing their grubby hands together is an ecstatic frenzy at the thought of the protracted carnage that will be played out.

Samsung vs Apple will look like the opening fight when Sony enters the ring....

Ahh, Simon, the dependable refreshing voice of reason in these forums. Thank you.

Sony is a giant, no doubt, as is Apple. However, it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out on US soil. I suppose it all depends on how well their patent stands up in court.

In one of those threads someone implied RED had a history of apparent frivolous suits.

Time will tell...

and as usual the only winners will be the lawyers

ANd the only losers are the consumers.

simonpwood wrote: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve", is the quote attributed to Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto after the attack on the US Pearl Harbor. Whether he actually said it or not is irrelevant, because it summed up the Admirals general feeling after the attack.

I wonder what sort of patents Sony has hidden away in their arsenal? I wonder if that old monolithic giant will be woken?

Two can play that game, and as usual the only winners will be the lawyers. Why they must be rubbing their grubby hands together is an ecstatic frenzy at the thought of the protracted carnage that will be played out.

Samsung vs Apple will look like the opening fight when Sony enters the ring....

Well, I am using my above quote here because it looks like RED woke the giant. Sony has now counter sued, and is saying that RED technology all the way from the RED 1 to EPIC, and a lot of its accessories, infringe Sony patents.

Interestingly; if true, then these were patents Sony would have been sitting on for a long time, but didn't bother pursuing. Until they got poked into action.

Below is the message posted on Sony's website:

Sony Comments re Patent Suit Filed Against Red Digital Cinema
On April 5, 2013, Sony Corporation ("Sony") sued Red Digital Cinema ("Red") for infringing 7 of Sony's patents in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Sony believes that the Red ONE, EPIC and SCARLET cameras, various digital still and motion camera modules, and various accessories such as the REDMOTE infringe our patents. Sony is seeking both money damages and an injunction to stop the continued sale of Red's infringing products. Sony makes significant investments into the research & development of technology related to the cinema camera industry and intends to protect those investments against companies that infringe our patents.

pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/show-highend/

Wow, I wonder if this could actually stop the production of RED cameras?

Goes to show, the only thing really standing in the way of progress is the existence of lawyers.

Not surprisingly, the majority of politicians are lawyers.

Will we ever learn?


:huh:

It's probably more likely to result in a product push with a profit share. Business is business and letting a competitor continue with what they've already got from their marketing costs is often more cost effective that way.