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Microsoft Sued By Datel For Killing Off Third Party Xbox 360 Memory Units
Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End Antitrust, Patent Wars
Intel Hit With a Massive Antitrust Suit, In the US This Time
Eric Schmidt Should've Left Sooner
AMD to Intel: Nyah Nyah Nyah Nyah Nyah
Intel Smacked With Staggering $1.45 Billion Fine in Euro Antitrust Case
Federal Trade Commission Investigating the Apple-Google Relationship
European Union Considering a Ban on Carrier VoIP Filtering
Vizio Blocked From Importing TVs into the US
Google Attacks Microsoft's Browser Monopoly

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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

In reply to Microsoft Sued By Datel For Killing Off Third Party Xbox 360 Memory Units
''for blocking unauthorized third party memory units. ''

Why is Daltel being viewed in the right, but Palm in the wrong with iTunes. Both are examples of a company capitalizing on another companies IP without paying to license it. If Daltel bothered to license it, there wouldn't be a problem.

Do I think MS brand accessories are overpriced? Hell yes, but I also think companies should go through legal channels. I mean, this is the equivalent of someone complaining that the 5870 they bought doesn't work in their Mac Pro. Just because you make something that fits in a closed system doesn't mean that system has to support it.

Not to be an ass, but it's a 512MB from MS, not 12MB.
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Delano_J
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: It's not their problem if it's unauthorized, it's the customer. They can buy whatever they want to use on their own stuff. Just as well, should I not be able to use a device on my PC because it isn't licensed for windows? Please.
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Nathan Obbards promoted this comment Edited by Delano_J at 11/23/09 5:42 PM Delano_J was starred Delano_J was unstarred

Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@Delano_J: Windows machines are an open ecosystem, the 360 is a closed ecosystem. They have every right to block an unauthorized device, especially if said device can be used for pirating. If Daltel wants to be able to use their products on the 360, they should pay a licensing fee and adhere to the standards for the system. End of story.
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pagan_god
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: Does Microsoft even offer licensing as an option? When I was looking for 360 memory units, there were exactly 2 choices-- Microsoft and Daltel.

Seems like FairPlay all over again.
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Nathan Obbards promoted this comment pagan_god was starred pagan_god was unstarred

Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@pagan_god: They did for the original XBox. Since I have a 360 Pro, there's no need for a memory card for me. If Daltel approached MS to be officially licensed and MS said no because they wanted to be the sole manufacturer, I could see an issue; however, if Daltel didn't seek a licensing agreement or refused to improve the quality of their products to MS's standards, then they have no room to complain.
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Delano_J
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: No they don't because it's only a closed ecosystem in Microsoft's eyes. But guess what? They don't own the 360 in my house nor the memory unit I buy. So I can choose whatever card I want. End of story.

They own their servers and I pay to use live-on their property. They can ban me from live or keep my files that have been passed through the card from functioning online.
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@Delano_J: They do have the right to keep you from pirating games. If an unauthorized third party device is shown to play a part in pirating, they can ban it. It is your choice to do the upgrade.
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rcast1986
11/23/09

@Delano_J: I thought this was horseshit too until I read the comments and realized these are the ones that have a slot for an external card. That seems to be the issue here. And his analogy with the iTunes/Palm dilemma is spot on. I think it's a dick move on Apple's part to just cut them off like that, but they have the right to because Palm's actions go against the rules set forth by the USB committee or whoever-the-hell. This is the same with MS, only it doesn't seem like as much of a dick move unless, like you said, they're needlessly denying Datel for reasons that obviously lead to them to being able to charge whatever the hell they want to. As it is, though, it sounds like, considering the way Datel does things currently with their card reader, it's a bit more understandable that Microsoft is handling things this way.
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Delano_J
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: This device plays no part in pirating games, though. The only way to do that is to flash your disc drive and that does not require a memory card in any way. MS is just spewing bullshit so they can monopolize their little market segment.
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adinnieken
11/23/09

@Delano_J: Unfortunately you are incorrect.

With some free third party software, and a Datel memory product, users are cabable of 1) gamerscore cheating, 2) achievement cheating, 3) in-game cheating, 4) modifying the avatar and 5) theft/piracy of DLC including Xbox Originals, On-Demand, and Xbox LIVE Arcade games.
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Delano_J
11/24/09

@adinnieken: Okay, but that's not hardware's fault. That act is entirely on the user end, how is this Datel's fault? I can't believe people are actually advocating crippling this company's product because of something a bunch of idiots are doing, which Microsoft is wholly able to detect and auto-ban as seen in the recent bannings across live.

Oh right, some piece of paper that was never signed (or agreed to even upon firing up an Xbox for the first time, sans live) gives them the right to fuck with my property because they lobbied until they got their way. Yes, this is totally legitimate and fair business.
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adinnieken
11/24/09

@Delano_J: Sorry, Datel violated US and Internation Law in order to make and sell their hardware.

They violated the DMCA, EU Copyright Directive, and the WIPO Copyright Law.

In order to create their product, they admit in their legal briefing that they, at great expense to them, circumvented Microsoft's copy-prevention and security schemes, which is in violation of all three laws.

So, no. They have no right to sell their product in the first place. The fact that a consumer decided to purchase an unofficial, unlicensed product is the end-consumer's problem. Not Microsoft's.

#speakup
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Delano_J
11/24/09

@adinnieken: And laws are just words on paper. A big protection racket made by hardware/software giants and the government does not make it legitimate or right.
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Edited by Delano_J at 11/24/09 1:50 PM Delano_J was starred Delano_J was unstarred

adinnieken
11/24/09

@Delano_J: Yep...I guess Datel vs. Microsoft will be a test of DMCA then.

Nevertheless, DMCA in the US is the law. They broke the law.

#speakup
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ripfire
11/23/09

In reply to Microsoft Sued By Datel For Killing Off Third Party Xbox 360 Memory Units
"Make authorized units. No big deal.

-Steve"
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@ripfire: + eleventy billion
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Kaiser-Machead
11/23/09

In reply to Microsoft Sued By Datel For Killing Off Third Party Xbox 360 Memory Units
14MB for $30? XBox tax sucks.
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lostarchitect
11/23/09

In reply to Microsoft Sued By Datel For Killing Off Third Party Xbox 360 Memory Units
Was it ever determined if this affected those knockoff chinese hard drives featured on Dealzmodo a while back? Frucci? Any luck with that? Mine's still sitting around in the box.
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pdspatrick
11/23/09

@lostarchitect: I have a 250gb model, and its working marvelously.
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lostarchitect
11/23/09

@pdspatrick: Good to know, thanks.
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not_a_virus.exe.vbs
11/12/09

In reply to Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End Antitrust, Patent Wars
I like how billion is in italics, like it is a lot of money

/smokes cigar made from hundred dollar bills and Megan Foxes pubes. #intelantitrust
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Radio Silence
11/12/09

In reply to Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End Antitrust, Patent Wars

Ain't it funny how Microsoft and Intel continually face litigation because of bad business practices? Can't they just sit back and enjoy the never-ending cash flow like Google? #intelantitrust
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RedRaider
11/12/09

In reply to Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End Antitrust, Patent Wars
I'd imagine there is more going on here than what appears:
Intel NEEDS AMD. A one company industry would be ripped up into pieces almost immediately. (And don't try to argue that there is other competition, no one really buys VIA chips)
Admitting that AMD is their competition and paying out based on having damaged said competition completely nullifies the "monopoly" argument.
Lawyers are smart cookies, maybe not great moral philosophers, but smart none the less... there is ALWAYS a public and private reason for these types of settlements. #intelantitrust
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UnderLoK promoted this comment RedRaider was starred RedRaider was unstarred

UnderLoK
11/12/09

@RedRaider: The main problem is that AMD is hemorrhaging money and has no money for R&D which means it's only a matter of time until they fold unless some of this cash can be used for R&D.

Their 3rd quarter financial cautionary statement had some pretty scary wording in it... [www.amd.com] look toward the bottom.

Maybe the Tbird2 could save them!? But this time it doesn't run at 4000 degrees F... #intelantitrust
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RedRaider
11/12/09

@UnderLoK: My point exactly, I'm wondering how much of a "stop suing us and we'll keep you guys from dying" mutual benefit agreement this was. #intelantitrust
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valkilmerisawful
11/12/09

@RedRaider: I'm sure you're right, and even tho it's seems counter-intuitive, Intel probably benefits more from AMD's competition than it would from monopolizing the industry. That would make the current EC and Federal government scrutiny look like little more than a childish interruption. #intelantitrust
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NorwoodIsMyHero
11/12/09

In reply to Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End Antitrust, Patent Wars
Fair enough. They should pay AMD for bullying them around but.....

The EC is like the boy who cried wolf. Their anti-trust laws are a mess and rife with places where agenda driven loons can exploit them.

Andrew Cuomo is just whale hunting for political purposes, much like he has been for the entire financial crisis. He's just confused things even more regarding the issues he's "investigated". I hope that idiot get's Eliot Spitzer'd. #intelantitrust
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otko
11/12/09

@NorwoodIsMyHero: You mean you hope he gets laid all the time by a hot prostitute, gets a free pass from the State of New York for fucking up, and then gets asked to speak at Harvard about ethics? Me too!

You gotta love the United States. Fucking A man. #intelantitrust
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tande04 promoted this comment otko was starred otko was unstarred

NorwoodIsMyHero
11/12/09

@otko: Don't forget being asked on all sorts of news shows to comment on the financial crisis. Yeah, whatever, at least his political future is ruined, which is what I'm hoping comes Cuomo's way. It always seems to me like NY AG's have watched one too many Law & Order episodes. #intelantitrust
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otko
11/12/09

@NorwoodIsMyHero:

You're kidding me right?!? Bill Clinton is the undisputed King of Adultery and guess what...he's regarded as the number 1 political influence in the entire WORLD. So saying Spitzer's political career is ruined is off key. At a halt, yes. Finished, no. He'll turn up somewhere. Maybe as an advisor to Obama or something. #intelantitrust
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NorwoodIsMyHero
11/12/09

@otko: Clinton never did prosties though (that we know of, and depending on what the definition of "did" is). I'm saying as an elected or even appointed (Cabinet, SEC Chairman etc.) official he's done. #intelantitrust
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otko
11/12/09

@NorwoodIsMyHero: Well you said political future, I assumed it meant in general. I could def see him popping up somewhere, and it's not going to be at McDonald's. He's a lawyer and aside from his folly's, a smart guy. And Spitzer was linked to 1 specific hooker/service, whereas Clinton was linked to several sex scandals. Which one is worse is debatable, but in my eyes Clinton screwed up on an epic level-and he is very much still liked & a political heavy hitter-even with the scarlet letter tattooed on his forehead.

There's proof everywhere that you don't need to hold a seat in the senate or be a cabinet member to be a political force. Palin, Clinton, and Limbaugh all have some form of clout and none of them are actual elected officials. #intelantitrust
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otko
11/12/09

@NorwoodIsMyHero: Well you said political future, I assumed it meant in general. I could def see him popping up somewhere, and it's not going to be at McDonald's. He's a lawyer and aside from his folly's, a smart guy. And Spitzer was linked to 1 specific hooker/service, whereas Clinton was linked to several sex scandals. Which one is worse is debatable, but in my eyes Clinton screwed up on an epic level-and he is very much still liked & a political heavy hitter-even with the scarlet letter tattooed on his forehead.

There's proof everywhere that you don't need to hold a seat in the senate or be a cabinet member to be a political force. Palin, Clinton, and Limbaugh all have some form of clout and none of them are actual elected officials. #intelantitrust
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zeroprime
11/12/09

In reply to Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End Antitrust, Patent Wars
I can't help but wonder where the quality of AMD chips would be if Intel hadn't been "encouraging" computer retailers to use only Intel processors. Or heck, where we might stand overall if there had been more competition. AMD has done pretty darn good with their small marketshare, more business could have meant more/newer production facilities sooner than later. #intelantitrust
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UnderLoK promoted this comment zeroprime was starred zeroprime was unstarred

UnderLoK
11/12/09

@zeroprime: They haven't been doing well for awhile now, they are gushing cash, but this boost from Intel is enough to get them through another year.

Right now they have no money at all for R&D which is just going to make the gap even bigger.

As far as computer retailers go... Intel has been providing a complete solution which really helped to increase their lead. A manufacturer being able to one stop shop for CPU/Chipset/Mobo/GPU was pretty powerful and something that AMD couldn't offer in the past.
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Edited by UnderLoK at 11/12/09 12:10 PM UnderLoK was starred UnderLoK was unstarred

zeroprime
11/12/09

@UnderLoK: Oh yeah, AMD is on the ropes, so to speak. AMD makes competitive products, but mostly in areas with lower profit margins. When Intel moved to the Core architecture they actually had a better product. I'm just thinking back to the Pentium 4 days, when you could cook a pizza with your laptop.

As I understand it, Intel used its size to encourage PC/Laptop makers to use their products exclusively. When being more subtle they offered discounts for bulk sales that essentially led to exclusivity, and in the alleged cases where it was less subtle threatened to raise prices if the companies included competitor chip makers' products in their lineups.

If AMD had been able to more freely enter the general PC market, instead of remaining an enthusiast/home builder choice, they might be in a better position today with more competitive products. #intelantitrust
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Mikestan
11/12/09

In reply to Intel Pays AMD $1.25 Billion To End Antitrust, Patent Wars
It seems like Intel is handing out billions of dollars like its no big deal.

Hey Intel! If your reading this can I borrow a few million dollars? #intelantitrust
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UnderLoK promoted this comment Mikestan was starred Mikestan was unstarred

UnderLoK
11/12/09

@Mikestan: They spend that per quarter in R&D alone... #intelantitrust
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iansilv
11/12/09

@UnderLoK: They spend $2,000 per quarter on research? they need to at least double this, and quick! #intelantitrust
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UnderLoK promoted this comment iansilv was starred iansilv was unstarred

UnderLoK
11/12/09

@iansilv: haha no, they spend 1.5B a quarter. #intelantitrust
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iansilv
11/12/09

@UnderLoK: #intelantitrust
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bonedog73
11/04/09

In reply to Intel Hit With a Massive Antitrust Suit, In the US This Time
I've been an AMD man for many years. I like to support the underdog. Besides you get a lot more for your money with an AMD chip. #intelantitrust
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bagellord
11/04/09

In reply to Intel Hit With a Massive Antitrust Suit, In the US This Time
Yay for the government. I prefer AMD over Intel because I can get great performance very cheaply, but I concede that Intel trounces AMD's processors. If I could I would build/buy an i7 rig but I don't have that kind of money. All that being said I have an iMac and a Macbook Pro both with Intel processors. #intelantitrust
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szrimaging
11/04/09

In reply to Intel Hit With a Massive Antitrust Suit, In the US This Time
Great, now chip prices go up again because Intel has to cover the costs of all the lawyers. Thank you government for screwing us over.... #intelantitrust
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Bluecold:Of volcanic temperament but soothed by a custard pie balsam.
11/04/09

@szrimaging: And then people buy more AMD, AMD will get more money to research more and we get faster processors without Intels douchebaggery. Yay government! #intelantitrust
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szrimaging promoted this comment

szrimaging
11/04/09

@Bluecold: The problem is, people are sheep to the marketing mainstream. As long as Intel is the "brand name" people will still buy them over the "untrustworthy value option". Not to mention, anyone who is a performance freak will work on getting the better chip, so AMD better hurry up and do a leap frog.

I, for one, am going Intel in the next build because AMD can't compete when building a high-end photo/video rig. #intelantitrust
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Bluecold:Of volcanic temperament but soothed by a custard pie balsam.
11/04/09

@szrimaging: And what if you can get 2 Opteron's on a server board with loads of RAM for the same price as a single i7 setup? You'll get the Opterons because they combined are faster. #intelantitrust
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FooSchnickens - BPH Free
11/04/09

In reply to Intel Hit With a Massive Antitrust Suit, In the US This Time
Time to stock up on popcorn. #intelantitrust
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yoshi
08/04/09

In reply to Eric Schmidt Should've Left Sooner
Both sides did the right thing.
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