Top 5 Lawsuits of 2008: Microsoft, Apple, Barbie
1. Bratz vs. Barbie dolls - Mattel Inc. won the copyright infringement case against MGA Entertainment Inc. over the Bratz doll franchise. And the jury awarded Mattel $100,000,000 or 54,000,000 pounds for the copyright infringement case but way below the the $2 billion damages asked by Mattel. Read Reuters full article
My view about the case is that why is it worth millions of dollars when in fact it is only a doll? It was said in the article that Carter Bryant ( designer of barbie dolls and Bratz dolls ) sold his bratz idea to MGA Entertainment while he was still working in Mattel Inc. ( barbie's company ). I think Bryant has the right to sell his idea to MGA Entertainment because he is in fact out of work when he made the idea. Unless it is against the rules of the company or the contract he had signed with Mattel Inc. And this time Barbie won the war against Bratz girls because barbie is sexier.
2. Mediaset vs. Youtube - Google's youtube was sued by an italian media conglomerate for illegal hosting of Mediaset's video clips. The lawsuit filed was worth $780 million and joins the pending $1 billion lawsuit of Viacom which similarly claims that youtube hosts Viacom contents. Read Reuters full article
My view about the case is that there are other hosting companies that illegally host videos of movies, music videos and clips from tv shows yet they are not sued. I am a fan of watching naruto shippuuuden videos online and it is so nice that i can watch these videos even if i am not in japan but it is not nice for the company who made it. Anyway, i think i can sue youtube too for hosting a video of me which was uploaded by my friend. How about $1,000,000? hehehe..
3. Psystar vs. Apple - A counter-sue was filed by a miami-based company Psystar, owned by Rudy Pedraze, for violating the two US laws namely the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act. The laws were designed to discourage monopolies and cartels. Read Cnet full article
My view about the case is that it was a good move by psystar to defend them from the lawsuit filed by Apple against them. It is also an eye opener to everyone of us and it should be a head start for organizations and other companies to encourage cases against companies that monopolize. Like some companies in the world wide web that wanted to control the web through acquisition of competitors.
4. Microsoft vs. Gotuit - Microsoft was sued by gotuit media with charges that microsoft's silverlight infringe some of Gotuit (a digital media company) patented technology. Gotuit seeks an injunction against the software maker as well as damages and attorney's fees. Read zdnet full article
My view about the case is that microsoft's deep pocket tamed gotuit company to file lawsuit. Anyway, it is good to fight for the right and defend your patented technology. Technologies are discovered after years of thorough study and it should not be copied without permission of the scientist or technologist that discovered the new technology.
5. Yahoo vs. "Lottery Spammers" - Yahoo sued unidentified companies and individuals for trademark infringement, trademark deception and violation of the CAN-SPAM Act in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on May 16, 2008. Read Pcworld full article
This last case is something odd because a company filed a lawsuit for unknown company and individuals. Tracing those spammers is hard because some of them are using third-party accounts. Anyway, i want to support yahoo for this move but i think whatever i do we won't win because we cannot identify the individuals and company concerned with the case.
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