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Sony facing another PS3 suit

Latest litigation over Cell-powered console centers on alleged infringements on synchronized parallel processor patent.

Sony has already been slapped with patent suits over the construction of its PlayStation 3 Blu-ray discs and the system's digital security technology. Now the electronics giant is being taken to court over the parallel processing Cell chip that powers its latest console.

In its suit, Parallel Processing Corporation of Newport Beach, California, cites a patent for "synchronized parallel processing with shared memory" that was approved on October 8, 1991. The patent was originally assigned to International Parallel Machines of New Bedford, Massachusetts, while Parallel Processing Corporation describes itself as its "exclusive licensee."

The terse five-page complaint--filed in the Eastern District of Texas (Tyler Division)on July 26--claims that Sony products including the PS3 infringe upon its patent. The suit doesn't specify which of the patent's claims Sony is infringing upon, but it states that the company's actions "are causing irreparable harm and monetary damage" to the company. Parallel Processing Corporation is seeking damages and attorney's fees with interest, as well as the impounding and destruction of all Sony products that infringe on the patent.

When asked about the suit, a Sony representative told GameSpot, "We don't comment on pending litigation."

394 Comments

  • ButterDumpster7

    Posted Aug 17, 2007 1:01 pm GMT

    I think I heard about this from my aunt. She has friends who both work for Nintendo and Microsoft and she said she overheard them talking about this. From what my aunt heard it's going to be "the biggest lawsuit in history." Now I dont necessarily believe this, because the general media would definitely have gotten wind of it at LEAST by now. Sony just needs to get it's act together. As much as most people may have believed they waited to realease the PS3, Im sure they rushed it, possibly by a whole year or more. This caused them to seek alternatives to designing their own equipment, or requesting the use of these patented products. Another possible explanation is that they didn't have the money to pay off the liscensees for their patents, because of the price of the equipment, and the low stock quantity of the PS3 itself. Ill wait to get a PS3. For now Ill just get in line for BioShock and have myself a party.

  • darkzerogamer

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 11:26 am GMT

    They'll probably just have to change the processing chip. Maybe to a PowerPC. Oh wait. They already have a system like that. The 360.

  • taquitoscopio

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 12:49 am GMT

    Listen I know lawyers, this is all towards pushing the off court settlement. all they want is a piece of the company. imagine royaltieas for every playstation 3 bought world wide... that's more money than simple damages, fees and fines... its money for a lifetime. it's always gonna be like this.

  • naztwelve

    Posted Aug 6, 2007 2:16 am GMT

    i hope they loose then everyone will have to get a 360 but i hope they win so prices stay fair

  • R-Force

    Posted Aug 4, 2007 10:50 am GMT

    All this patent bullcr** is getting really old. These patents are all on things that are so general they allow no room for movement. this company could have also sued Microsoft, Apple and a load of smaller businesses too. rubbish.

  • halogaro13

    Posted Aug 2, 2007 12:42 pm GMT

    sony is screwed WooT

  • gamerkid99

    Posted Aug 2, 2007 11:44 am GMT

    sounds legit...trying to get Sony off gaming i think

  • matrixman2k

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 11:09 am GMT

    Uninteresting. "Only in America" as they say...

    Still, no one is coming anywhere near my ps3 though - unless they want to feel the axe (literally) or something like that. After all i paid for the damn thing and it's all legitimate here.

    Don't care what some or a group of retard think.

  • ReverseCycology

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 10:10 am GMT

    PS3 clearance for real.

  • nss_scorpio

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 8:47 am GMT

    patenting a concept is just plain stupid,,
    WHAT ARE THE TECHNICALS, is it the same chip? i doubt it
    i'll patent peeing, then all of you will pay
    mmmwaahhaahahaha,,, mwaahaahaaa,, mmwahaahahaa

  • bob5291

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 7:42 am GMT

    Glad I have a 360

  • EFE_LOPES

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 5:59 am GMT

    Burn them ALL!!!

  • PixyMisao

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 2:28 am GMT

    Much as we'd like to jab at Sony here, Nintendo is going through similar litigation proceedings.

  • will_serenity

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:57 pm GMT

    The Cell processor was announced how long ago and this company just got to filing a suit? Where were these guys like 3 years ago when Sony/IBM announced the damn thing? I'm starting ti thing the Illuminatii or the Mafia wants the PS3 to die lol.

    Either that, or Mr. I'm not the richest guy in the world anymore Gates is spending his money to get companies to sue Sony because he knows the 360 won't outlast the PS3

  • Nawras

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 10:38 pm GMT

    LooooL @ bam226! Totally agree

  • bam226

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 8:27 pm GMT

    annhhh, Sony should jus do a microsoft and buy the whole damn company, strip it of all its resources and sell em off or rename em Sony

  • xenogearsownz

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 8:15 pm GMT

    As much as I hate fanboys, it would be a bit harsh to have all PS3's impounded, don't you think?

  • LuminosityBlaze

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 8:09 pm GMT

    So basicially what this is saying is that we could have had the PS3 16 years ago and the government had to halt its production over concerns that Saddam Hussein might get one to launch nukes. See it makes sense... No PS3 available until after Iraq was already invaded. O.K., I'll stop now...

  • punkybruiser83

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 7:32 pm GMT

    You know i find it ridicullous that such a technology was patented exclusvely to this sole company. I honestly believe that it is true bullcrap.

  • lostn

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 7:23 pm GMT

    PPC actually wants every PS3 sold to be recalled and destroyed. So you're not safe if you already own one.

    "Parallel Processing Corporation is seeking not only attorney's fees and damages, but also the impounding and destruction of all Sony products that infringe on the patent, which would involve a recall of every PS3."

    http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2195328/sony-sued-cell-cpu

  • Houseofcary

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 6:28 pm GMT

    lol theyd have to hunt me down to get my SONY. I'm talking SWAT teams and a high speed chase. IF anything happens, which i doubt this company can afford lawyers to take down the international multiBillion dollar Giant, they'll setlle.

  • HyruleanLink

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 6:08 pm GMT

    Doesn't sound much of a case as of now. Only time will tell.

  • EdyKel

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 4:16 pm GMT

    @ -Squirrel-

    There is a bit more to it than that. Aside from Acacia Technologies buying the rights to said patent recently, they also made a former Microsft empployee VP of their company.

    ***Update***

    ” Oddly enough, Sony’s own patent, filed in 2001 and issued in 2007, actually lists the 1991 patent as a citation. In other words, Sony’s own patent lawyers have already seen the old patent and deemed it not to be a threat, and the U.S. Patent Office apparently agreed when it issued Sony the patent in June." ~ Digitaltrends.com .

    http://news.digitaltrends.com/news/story/13725/ps3s_cell_processor_faces_patent_challenge

    ******
    As to the Immersion Lawsuit... People seem to forget that they went after Microsoft first, for the same patent infringment; but without the same demands of stoping the sales of their systems like they did with Sony. Microsft settled the lawsuite with them, but made some sort of agreement with them to go after Sony. If there is any doudt to this people can check out Microsft investment portfolio at their website; or they can look at the recent Microsft lawsuite against Immersion, over the Sony Settlement.

  • MarcusMuchgame

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 4:12 pm GMT

    This wont hold up in court. Its like microsoft suing for people using linux.

    http://www.gamespot.com/users/MarcusMuchgame/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=m-100-25093425

  • Poltergeist13

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 4:00 pm GMT

    Poor Sony...if only they would care more for their gaming platform, than trying to own the next format to replace dvd.

  • coollizy

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 3:36 pm GMT

    Texas is an odd state to file a patent infringment case in. Especially when neither company is based there...

  • RgvXavi

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 3:19 pm GMT

    some of you are very passionate about this issue. me, blah. will winning this suit help sony pump out more games? no. will it help the ps network become as robust as Xbox Live? no, no one will match the downloadable content on Live, no one. does winning increase its sales? no, the price drop and phase out of one of thier consoles did that for them, but still not the 10mil of 360.will winning change the fact that the ps3 is simply a blu-ray player that happens to play games? no. really doesn't matter to me. while you ps3 fanboys are twiddling your thumbs looking for a online match i'll be on Live along with the other 699 million people. be on the look out for my Elite Race Squad on Forza Motorsport2.

  • 5FingersOfDeath

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 2:57 pm GMT

    Damn these guys have an arsenal of patents on their website to be infringed upon.
    Some of mines:
    -personal computers that can microwave
    -remote controls that can be played upside down
    -mentally controlled video games
    -storage media thats spherical
    -water based micro processors
    -edible computer mouse
    -keyless keyboard
    -wireless wires
    -valet monkeys

    Crossin' my fingers someone has a use for them.

  • Patriot298

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 2:55 pm GMT

    wow looks tlike the PS3 is going down I was thinking of getting one but with this on hand and the other suit envolving blu ray I'm pretty sure the PS3 appears to be a ripoff of many companies out there.

  • Benny_is_here

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 2:45 pm GMT

    All this legal talk is complicated for little me...

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 2:00 pm GMT

    How many lawsuits has Sony faced since the launch of the PS3? This is getting ridiculous.

  • lukey9493

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 1:43 pm GMT

    they think sony stole their 15 year old tech. what a bunch of loosers.

  • fauljosh

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 12:40 pm GMT

    Seems bogus. I don't really care for Sony but I don't think this suit is well founded. Any dual core or above processer should fall under this patent then. So why are they suing only Sony? Pretty lame.

  • the_new_neo

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 12:39 pm GMT

    wow, reading that was a waste of 2 minutes of my life

  • Digz005

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 12:02 pm GMT

    I see this lawsuit going as far as........what were we talking about "The suit doesn't specify which of the patent's claims Sony is infringing upon" but is doing damage uh huh I swear, now if we get updates about all the lawsuits filed against all these companies, we'd be here all night

  • Jux_Zeil

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:49 am GMT

    They Won't take me or my PS3 alive.

  • nitrous1013

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:44 am GMT

    wait i take that last one back...i dont know which side to take..the little guys...or big bad Sony.....i wonder if they stole the idea....and its true....this CELL processor was developed in conjunction with toshiba, sony , and Ibm.....in texas....oh the PLOT thickens!!!

  • nitrous1013

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:40 am GMT

    hmm..thats funny because the Xbox-360 has parallel processing with synchronized memory....hmm...i wonder whats going on?

  • rasterror

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:18 am GMT

    What this could mean is Sony could lose more exclusive titles. Not only that the companies might be turned away by this patent infringement and devote there talent and game solely to MS and Nintendo only. The other lawsuits were nothing compared to this, this actually has to do with the key component that makes the PS3 the PS3. The video game brains of all video game brains. If PPC doesn't settle out of court or for money and wants Sony to pull the patent infringing, which sounds like the Cell, this would either a multi-biliion dollar redesign and recall if any, or the end of Sony's video game hardware or even product development. Sony really can't lose any money, not even as an entire company. If I were Sony I would try to buy out the company and all of it's investments and product designs to end all of this.

  • screamingdean

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:14 am GMT

    This. Is. Bollox.

  • maninblac1

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:10 am GMT

    How is this even making news. Sony doesn't own the Patent, on the Cell microprocessor. The only parallel computing chip in the PS3. The patent is owned by Toshiba, Sony, and IBM. Why this suit only names Sony is suspicious as it is since IBM/Mercury also uses the Cell in their blade servers . Secondly, it is suspcious that they don't name the patent that was infringed, or how, since no record of the mentioned patent appears in the US patent database that i can find.

  • red_shock

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:07 am GMT

    I was finally planning to buy a Playstation 3 since things were finally getting better. After this, I'm not so sure it's worth buying anymore...

  • unbreakable4534

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:01 am GMT

    Well, I'm crossing my fingers that this is kind of bogus and the judge rules in favor of Sony. Seems like this company would have sued Sony a good 10 months ago over this, seeing as Sony has talked about the Cell and how it works since way before the PS3 was released. To say to have all Sony products destroyed is ridiculous.

  • Rangel_19

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 11:01 am GMT

    Wow... this certainly sux for Sony... they are already losing so much money and now this!

    I think they even had problems with some church in England... for portraying it in Resistance: Fall of Man and having guns and what not inside the church... tsk tsk tsk....

  • Ghostin-Dashell

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 10:57 am GMT

    To be fair before litigation was ever entered into someone at PPC will have ripped the gizzard out of a PS3 and had a very good look inside.

    Purely the fact they have started the process means they must be pretty damn sure of patent infringement. Most likely there will be a long and expensive legal process followed by an out of court settlement.

  • StonyShred420

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 10:49 am GMT

    Oh, did Sony just drop the ball AGAIN!?!

  • rokkuman09

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 10:41 am GMT

    Man Sony is stupid. They should just pay the companies for the stupid patents before hand, dear lord..

  • scmbg

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 10:39 am GMT

    @ djayshaggy good shoot.

  • rasterror

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 10:38 am GMT

    I gotta take a dump. Keep the ball rolling, I'll be back.

  • rasterror

    Posted Jul 31, 2007 10:34 am GMT

    Isn't the Cell processor an 8 core model while? I think it's different from a dual in the sense that it has one main with with 7 salve while a dual is 1processor that has two equal main core brains to handle individual operations and not a master and a slave. That's why it's so hard to develop for the PS3 because you can't tell which core to go to but you to tell the main core to tell the minor cores where to dedicate the info. I maybe wrong in fact I'm probably way but I do know that developers have a terrible time programming with the Cell. Hopefully if they have to ditch this they can use an easier to use and maybe better quad core intel or AMD cpu. Imagine that!?! My next CPU is gonna have the Pentium P35 Q-Core with 4 Gigs of DDR3 RAM with a 8800 GTX or two in SLI for the low low price of free .99. Sorry what was I talking about....?

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