I've read both the uniloc patent and their lawsuit and I don't think the folks at Mojang have much to worry about. All of the illustrations in the patent feature a smart card and it talks about a very vague system to authenticate a user against a system to allow or deny access to data. As far as I can tell Minecraft PE does not do this and it is the only Mojang product they call out as allegedly infringing. The normal MC game does however authenticate to a remote server to verify the user is allowed to play the game, as does nearly every other system we use to authenticate (gmail, amazon, paypal, domains, pandora, steam, origin, etc. etc. etc.). I'm not sure to what degree the smart card aspect of the patent will matter if this goes to court, but ultimately that is for the judge to decide.
The community as a whole needs to do more reading and understanding before being judgmental and certainly needs to turn the hate down a bit. I feel using such a vague patent to serial litigate against every software company you can get your hands on is despicable, but that does not justify hateful speech.
Competition and the sharing of ideas are good. Companies making money and selling useful products are good too. What I can't fathom is how Uniloc was "hurt" by Mojang developing all of their own code in house and selling it.
Their website says they've been very successful in aggressively defending their patent,... 25 out of 73 (34%) doesn't sound very successful to me. The patent is complete BS as well, it's like having a patent on using a key to start a vehicle.
From what I've read, I get the feeling that what's really happening is that the makers of the Android smartphones licenced authentication software for their product from Uniloc (which is what this company does when not making predatory lawsuits) which makes up part of the Android's OS, which individual apps are able to use. I find it significant that in the lawsuit, Uniloc specifies Android apps, as opposed to those other smartphones like the iPhone, which also runs a version of the Minecraft Pocket Edition app. I suspect that Uniloc is suing those companies that either don't require authentication to use the app, or may have included their own authentication software, and thus don't feel the need to pay Uniloc royalties for something they don't use in the first place, on the assumption that Uniloc's authentication software is being used without permission.
Never mind. The Android OS is open source, so Uniloc is nothing but a lawsuit happy patent troll. Crush them, Mojang! Crush them so hard that their great grandchildren will be afraid to crawl out from under whatever rock spawned them.
You all do realize that being a grammar Nazi will not get you out of everything right? Ya they did spell the game's name wrong but they also stipulated "Games like" or something like that. The case will go on, and be determined on it's merits. However messed up that might be.
Keep in mind that this is the same justice system that allowed McDonalds to loose, pay tons of money, and have to label that their coffee was hot. It required hemorrhoid cream to write on the label "Do not take orally", and upheld the fact that Harmony Gold owns the concept of "Giant Walking Robots" here in this country. Not to mention how many "Guilty" go free and how many "Innocent" never get proven that way. Don't get me wrong, it works most of the time. However I think in a case like this it's just a roll of the dice.
My personal opinion is that it is stupid, and the guy is grabbing for doe. But I don't have all the information yet so I don't know.. The patent seems rather vague. It would be like me filing a patent for digitally storing media on an electronic device. "Ya ya know if you put all these 1's and 0's on a hard drive and then play them back through this program that understand it's. It will make music ya know". Then suing everyone who then sells and mp3.
Love the guys defense of his law suit though. Patent laws exist to protect the little people from the bigger corporations. Yet he is filing suit again Mojang a 4 year old start up with one title.
And I'm not so sure they won against Microsoft. That thing to over turned so many times I think someone at MS finally decided to make the problem go away.
Unlioc seriously?They are patent trolls if you hadn't knew.They have already sued other companies for stupid reasons like this.The real reason they are sueing everyone is because they want money.They are so going to fail if they do try to sue anyone.
As was pointed out in an earlier comment, the patent in question (Patent # 6,857,067) has expired due to non-payment of maintenance fees on February 15, 2009. You can see this by going to http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2009/week14/TOC.htm and searching for "6,857,067" with Ctrl+F. Unless they paid a surcharge to reinstate it, which I doubt, but can someone try to find out?
LOLOLOLOLOLOL. I probably would have taken this seriously..... but considering that Uniloc, is suing some pretty big companies like Square Enix, Electronic Arts, and others.... AT THE SAME TIME...... that's..... that's just laugh-able. Uniloc sounds like a huge ass *insert troll face here* and a *forever alone*. Seriously though, a ****ing typo, woop-dee-****ing-doo, I am going to sue Minecraft Mindcraft.
Uniloc wants money...... GIVE THEM CREEPERS TO THE HOUSE >
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I find the lack of turtles in your thread disturbing
"...by or through making, using, offering for sale, selling and/or importing Android based
applications for use on cellular phones and/or tablet devices that require communication with a
server to perform a license check to prevent the unauthorized use of said application, including,
but not limited to, Mindcraft."
After filing a lawsuit against Mojang for a game that doesn't even exist (i.e. poor research), is there even a case against Mojang? These people seem like they're trying to scam large, or at least well-off companies, out of money.
And adding to whoever mentioned that the patent itself is actually expired, these people shouldn't have any viable case, and will be out of money pretty soon. especially if anyone counter-sues them. i forget if they could potentially be sent to jail for fraud if there patent isn't active or not.
This entire lawsuit is complete rubbish beacause in the lawsuit PDF it says they're suing over infractions caused by a game called 'Mindcraft'. Since Mojang have never released a games called Mindcraft, Uniloc therefore doesn't have a case. So the moral is: always spellcheck official court documents!
That's the thing, They did! If you observe a spell check of Minecraft, one of the options I have seen before is "Mindcraft".
Even though this entire thing is a load of crap. You do have to know and respect that as fans, we are not allowed into the courtroom. We can hope and cheer, but not assist.
That does raise a thought, what if the jury has people who play Minecraft?
Uniloc is a joke, this lawsuit won't go anywhere at all. They even mispelled the name of the video game that they referenced, 'Mindcraft'. Such obvious errors will not go unnoticed in court, if this advances further.
The community as a whole needs to do more reading and understanding before being judgmental and certainly needs to turn the hate down a bit. I feel using such a vague patent to serial litigate against every software company you can get your hands on is despicable, but that does not justify hateful speech.
Competition and the sharing of ideas are good. Companies making money and selling useful products are good too. What I can't fathom is how Uniloc was "hurt" by Mojang developing all of their own code in house and selling it.
Last time I checked, Mojang does not own anything names Mindcraft. Case closed.
hey i live in texas, and i don't agree with them
From what I've read, I get the feeling that what's really happening is that the makers of the Android smartphones licenced authentication software for their product from Uniloc (which is what this company does when not making predatory lawsuits) which makes up part of the Android's OS, which individual apps are able to use. I find it significant that in the lawsuit, Uniloc specifies Android apps, as opposed to those other smartphones like the iPhone, which also runs a version of the Minecraft Pocket Edition app. I suspect that Uniloc is suing those companies that either don't require authentication to use the app, or may have included their own authentication software, and thus don't feel the need to pay Uniloc royalties for something they don't use in the first place, on the assumption that Uniloc's authentication software is being used without permission.Never mind. The Android OS is open source, so Uniloc is nothing but a lawsuit happy patent troll. Crush them, Mojang! Crush them so hard that their great grandchildren will be afraid to crawl out from under whatever rock spawned them.
Keep in mind that this is the same justice system that allowed McDonalds to loose, pay tons of money, and have to label that their coffee was hot. It required hemorrhoid cream to write on the label "Do not take orally", and upheld the fact that Harmony Gold owns the concept of "Giant Walking Robots" here in this country. Not to mention how many "Guilty" go free and how many "Innocent" never get proven that way. Don't get me wrong, it works most of the time. However I think in a case like this it's just a roll of the dice.
My personal opinion is that it is stupid, and the guy is grabbing for doe. But I don't have all the information yet so I don't know.. The patent seems rather vague. It would be like me filing a patent for digitally storing media on an electronic device. "Ya ya know if you put all these 1's and 0's on a hard drive and then play them back through this program that understand it's. It will make music ya know". Then suing everyone who then sells and mp3.
Love the guys defense of his law suit though. Patent laws exist to protect the little people from the bigger corporations. Yet he is filing suit again Mojang a 4 year old start up with one title.
And I'm not so sure they won against Microsoft. That thing to over turned so many times I think someone at MS finally decided to make the problem go away.
MinecraftMindcraft.Uniloc wants money...... GIVE THEM CREEPERS TO THE HOUSE >
applications for use on cellular phones and/or tablet devices that require communication with a
server to perform a license check to prevent the unauthorized use of said application, including,
but not limited to, Mindcraft."
After filing a lawsuit against Mojang for a game that doesn't even exist (i.e. poor research), is there even a case against Mojang? These people seem like they're trying to scam large, or at least well-off companies, out of money.
And adding to whoever mentioned that the patent itself is actually expired, these people shouldn't have any viable case, and will be out of money pretty soon. especially if anyone counter-sues them. i forget if they could potentially be sent to jail for fraud if there patent isn't active or not.
OH NO, WE CANT HAVE YOU QUIT MINECRAFT FOR A MONTH!!!!!!!!!!
Hahahaha Im kidding.
i havent played minecraft in like 4 years lol
Does Uniloc own the Android?
(I do have a point to this, don't worry.)
Check out my epic Request!
That's the thing, They did! If you observe a spell check of Minecraft, one of the options I have seen before is "Mindcraft".
Even though this entire thing is a load of crap. You do have to know and respect that as fans, we are not allowed into the courtroom. We can hope and cheer, but not assist.
That does raise a thought, what if the jury has people who play Minecraft?
Check out my epic Request!
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Curse Premium...but that's just like, my opinion, man.