Uniloc, a company familiar with patent infringement notices, have served Mojang with a legal writ.
The notice claims that the game ‘Mindcraft’ (their typo, not mine) contravenes Uniloc’s patent for ‘preventing unauthorized access to electronic data.’
Uniloc rather wildly claim that this patent means it owns the rights to software that verifies licensing on Android operating systems.
“Step 1: Wake up. Step 2: Check email. Step 3: See we’re being sued for patent infringement. Step 4: Smile,” tweeted Notch, adding that he intends to throw as much money as required to stop Uniloc.
Fighting against Notch will be Lead Attorny, Barry J. Bumgardner.
Source: Notch.Net via RockPaperShotgun
Dazbobaby
Patents, next to money, the root of all evil.
Come up with an idea, patent it, and just sit and wait for someone to come up with the same idea, even independently, then sue their ass off.
Patents are just an easy way to cash in, just ask Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Motorola and Notch.
ohmikkie
I can guarantee for most of the companies mentioned a good proportion of their “ideas” were bought or licensed.
ray_gillespie
Not sure I follow you. If money is the root of ALL evil, how does that stack up against, say, rape, or child abuse? Are they caused by money, or are they not evil acts?
Sympozium
Bum gardening? that is just wrong to think of… oh wait.
gaffers101
Barry J. Bumgardner……………….You couldn’t make that up could you!!
bmg_123
Since most second names originally came from jobs/places, you have to wonder what this guy’s ancestors did for a living!
Forrest_01
He comes from a long lineage of waxers.
Their specialty is the ‘back, sack & crack’.
OnlineAssassin77
If he’s doing back sacks an cracks i wonder if i could change my name to frontbumgardener an go down that route mmm. :)
Sympozium
Wow that surname cracks me up.
bunimomike
Hahaha! No effing way. Watched a film recently and the surname of someone in the credits was Bumgardner! I was howling laughing. I felt like we’d reached “funny names in the credits” nirvana and another turns up here. Makes sense they come in pairs (and one after tother too). Ha!
The Lone Steven
Bumgardner sounds like a person that Tuffcub would have made up in one of his parody articles.
Seeing as they are known as patent trolls and i think Notch has actually either bought the licence for it or has created a very simular thing to protect MineCraft, i think he will win the case as i suspect many other programs use a simular thing but i don’t see Patent Trolls incoprated going after them. Doesn’t Google own the rights to the patent that deals with licencing on the Andriod platform?
An-dz
Since when did minecraft do anything that involved Androids or handheld devices to stop people loging in to it illegitimately anyway?
Now il go sue Sony because they verify your PSN log in using a my system of bouncing plastic bags off a passing comet to make sure your loging in legitimately.
hazelam
i’d say since they released an android version of minecraft.
TSBonyman
I’ve just patented the idea that someone can create a patent for something even if they haven’t a f**king clue how to make it happen, and then sue anyone who has the innovation and skills to make it happen. Now they owe me.
OnlineAssassin77
You’ve got all bases covered there…now just sit and wait :D