Hello,

I am a student of electronics,  and I am finding the discussion of
"Microchip sues the World" very interesting. I'm enjoying the realizm of
the whole issue.

I heard that Microchip outsold (billions of dollars) Intel. (Anyone else?)

I have been programming microcontrollers for over a year, now.  I am now
gaining new insight on what a Huge industry this is.  Embedded control
will go how far???  Movie buffs? --> Terminator.  Hyper-Alloy steel shell,
microprocessor controlled.

Sorry - Just having fun with this incredible field!

Dave Celsnak
Senior, Western Michigan University
(Believe it or not, Automotive Engineering :-)


On Thu, 13 Nov 1997, Tjaart van der Walt wrote:

> Andrew Warren wrote:
> >
> > Sean Breheny <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote:
> >
> > > I thought that to obtain or uphold a patent, one had only to prove
> > > that their idea was not common knowledge and was not in common
> > > useage at the time of the patent application. I didn't think that it
> > > mattered if there was prior artwork which was only known to a few
> > > people. If this were the case, most patents could be contested
> > > because most inventions are "re-invented" by several people and only
> > > one or a few ultimately decice to pursue it and get a patent.
> > >
> > > Interestingly enough, I do know that it is possible for two patents
> > > to overlap and therefore, unless the two patent owners work
> > > together, neither can produce their idea.
> >
> > Guys:
> >
> > This is getting out of hand... I think we're starting to get way
> > off-topic for the PICLIST.
>
> I don't know. Previously it was said that it should be kept in the open,
> so everybody can make up their own minds (not by myself though).
> Anything that can affect any of the PIClisters' perceptions, development
> time, development tools, cost, software and hardware sizes must be given
> the chance to be fairly discussed.
>
> Scenix has been plugged as drop-in replacements for PICs which they are
> not. It has also been hailed as supplementary to the Mchip line, which
> IMHO they are not either. Opinions vary and that is good.
>
> I cannot immagine someone stupid enough to go and "design" a product
> that looks exactly like a big company's pride and joy, stick plenty of
> money into the development, only to lose it all after the first suit.
>
> On the other hand, it would be stupid of Mchip to NOT sue Scenix at
> this point (even if the infringements are immaginary), because they
> are also trying to get flash chips into the middle end (sic) market.
>
> Time is everything in our game.
>
> Bearing in mind the similarities between PICs and the Scenix chips,
> having a separate list would only benefit no-one but Mchip.
>
> --
> Friendly Regards
>
> Tjaart van der Walt
> mailto:tjaart@wasp.co.za
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