Dr. Gertrude Neumark Rothschild challenges corporations like Sony, LG, Nokia and Motorola
By Susan Wilson
How many people want recognition and compensation for their work? Everybody right? Well patents make sure that people who have worked long and hard inventing something, get compensated for their work. Patents also make sure that individuals and not just big corporations get paid for their inventions and innovations.
There has been a lot of discussion around Dr. Gertrude Neumark Rothschild’s patent case against, among others, Sony and its Blue-Ray technology. Much of the discussion berates her for filing suit against many of the biggest names in tech today for patent infringement. Dr. Neumark, as she is professionally known, is a Howe Professor Emerita of Materials Science, from Columbia University where she ”…is one of the world’s foremost experts on doping wide-bandgap semiconductors. “ Although this reads like gibberish for the non scientist, she basically developed a method used in the manufacture of LEDs that allows more blue and ultraviolet light to be emitted and creates more commercially useful LEDs. Everything from small cell phone displays to large screen televisions use LEDs that utilize this spectrum. As such the companies that she includes in her suit are a long list of well known names like Sony, LG, Nokia, Motorola, and Hitachi. She has settled other patent lawsuits against other manufacturers and has granted them the rights to use her patented technology.
At the same time, RIM (Research in Motion) has sued various other cell phone makers for patent infringement. RIM has been sued by other companies. Seagate is considering suing Samsung and Intel for violating its patents on solid state hard drives. Patent cases are constantly popping up between tech companies.
Is it only because Dr. Neumark is an individual that everyone is upset? When companies sue each other over patent issues, no one seems to care. It is Goliath, Inc. vs. Goliath, Inc. Dr. Neumark should be seen as an inspiration for inventors who are not backed by large corporations. Should she win her lawsuit, it would be the equivalent of David taking on a whole army of Goliaths.
Patents don’t completely prevent others from using the technology. All of the manufacturers listed can license her methods for use in their products without breaking the bank. More than likely, these companies are licensing from or to other companies, some part of its production methods or product components.
Being upset with the little guy or gal for wanting recognition and payment for their patented ideas and inventions is crazy. Why discourage individuals from developing new methods, and creations by denying them the right to own and license their developments? If anything, we should all be happy that for once it is a person and not a corporation who will gain from the enforcement of patents.
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April 4th, 2008
Susan Wilson,
You are absolutely correct. I find it annoying, unfair, sophmoric and just plain stupid when I read the bashing of individuals who stand up to and sue corporations.
I hope she wins and makes Billions.