Asus Preparing to Sue Over OC Socket

Level1Techs INBOX.deb
1

http://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/anton-shilov/asustek-plans-to-sue-its-rivals-for-patent-infringement/

As per the information in the Kit Guru article, it looks like the OC Socket that Asus so highly tout has been leaked to competitors and they are going to put it to use. As is the way in this modern age Asus are preparing to sue competitors. 

Thoughts?

The last update was that the OC Socket was Patent Pending so maybe they don't have a case yet?

Surely Intel own all rights over the socket as they use those extra pins, and thus socket, themselves for testing? Maybe they don't own the specific implementation which the patent would be valid for?

Why sue competitors for doing their job? Why not, as pointed out, sue the companies who leaked the Socket specs? They have to be relatively easy to find since Asus are the ones who supply the designs.

Should Asus have left well enough alone with the socket changes? 

2

Patent pending doesn't mean they don't have a case, it means that if there were damages done to them right now that they would not be able to recoup them as it was before the patent took effect. Much like how you have limited copyright damage recovery over your own work until you register it with the Copyright Office.

Intel does own the design, but from what it sounds like if the testing pins were instead used for power that could constitute a valid deviation and could be considered a derivative. If the competitors are found to be using the exact same methods, down to the smallest detail, then they're in hot water. However, while ASUS will probably win now the cat is out of the bag. Manufacturers will look to use the same tactics in the next chipset and that competition will do wonders for consumers.