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Hard Drive Patent Infringement Investigation Hits Five Companies

Hard Drive Patent Infringement Investigation Hits Five Companies

by , 11:15 AM EDT, October 11th, 2007

Steven and Mary Reiber filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) claiming several companies are infringing on hard drive technology patents they own. The government organization is now looking into Western Digital, Toshiba, and Seagate Technologies Hewlett-Packard, and Dell for possible violations.

The couple claimed that several hard drive manufacturers as well as companies that use hard drives in their products are infringing on their patents covering dissipative ceramic bonding methods. The two are hoping for a permanent cease and desist order to prevent the import of the hard drive products.

Should the ITC rule in favor of the Reibers, the decision could spell trouble for companies that build hard drives, and also for the companies that use hard drives in their products -- including manufacturers of external hard drives and RAID systems.

The ITC has until November 24 to set a deadline for its investigation.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:geoduck Posts: 1922 Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:43 pm Subject: You're kidding

You mean they didn't include Apple in there? I was thinking that suing Apple was this years big fad.


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Close Name:iJack Posts: 313 Joined: 13 Jun 2001
Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:10 pm Subject:

Apple doesn't manufacture hard drives. Why then, would they be included?


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Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:10 am Subject:

Quote
iJack wrote:
Apple doesn't manufacture hard drives. Why then, would they be included?


I don't think H-P or Dell do, either. Why are they being looked at?

//didn't rtfa.


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Close Name:geoduck Posts: 1922 Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:34 am Subject:

Quote
iJack wrote:
Apple doesn't manufacture hard drives. Why then, would they be included?

Just a rather sarcastic observation that it seems like everyone is suing Apple for anything they can think of.


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