Nikon file patent infringement lawsuit against Sigma

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:thinking: So its just OK for Nikon & Canon to have VR lenses now & no-one else - or have I mis read this :shrug:
 
I agree what ever happend to free enterprise
 
Lesco said:
I agree what ever happend to free enterprise
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Free enterprise doesn't come into it if Sigma have bought, and stripped down say a 70-200 VRII and reverse engineered it to use in the design of their new OS system??? I'm not saying that is what they have done, however, they may well have done and been found out???
 
Lesco said:
I agree what ever happend to free enterprise
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free enterprise is one thing, copying another is something else. speaking from the point of view of a company that has had its ideas copied quite blatantly, im afraid im with Nikon, you have to protect your investments.

wilko said:
Free enterprise doesn't come into it if Sigma have bought, and stripped down say a 70-200 VRII and reverse engineered it to use in the design of their new OS system??? I'm not saying that is what they have done, however, they may well have done and been found out???
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im pretty sure its sigma who reverse engineer to get their lenses to work with canon cameras. It looks like Nikon have tried to reach agreement and finally run out of patience.
 
pmaccyd said:
Will this open the floodgates for Canon to take action as well?
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It depends.

What's not clear if Nikon are suing as they have a patent on VR/IS/OS/VC or if they are suing because Sigma reverse engineered VR.

Reading the press release it sounds like Nikon hold a patent covering any form of vibration reduction in a changeable lens. If so you would have to assume that Canon/Tamron have either licensed the patent or are in talks to.
 
One way or the other, who's going to suffer? :(
 
Trig's said:
I wonder if the likes of car manufacturers etc will do the same....
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It might be cheaper for you to look at getting your wheels balanced first rather than going to the expense of getting VR installed in your car. :cool:
 
canon were the first to have IS and since sigma have had OS for a while makes you wonder if the original OS is a possible infringement or if their new lenses are alleged to have the copy of nikon.

problem with these law suits is that everybody sues each other. you only have to look to mobile phones with apple, nokia, HTC etc going laldy in the courts.
 
I thought Sigma reverse engineered all mounts anyway. (and Tamron)

Probably why there is a problem every now and then when a manufacturer brings out a new body and they need to be re-chipped. You don't see that with original manufacturers lenses.
 
Mike.P said:
Probably why there is a problem every now and then when a manufacturer brings out a new body and they need to be re-chipped. You don't see that with original manufacturers lenses.
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i think thats more with the really old lenses. least my 5-6 year old 70-200 has worked on bodies from 300D up to 1Dmk3 with no bother.
 
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Mike.P said:
I thought Sigma reverse engineered all mounts anyway. (and Tamron)
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Which they can, as long as if the design is covered by IP, then they do not infringe it with their own design. If you open something up, see how it works and then think of an improvement/alternative which is not covered in the original IP then you can make it yourself.

IP is essentially a series of loopholes, with slippery people trying to close them and even slipperier people trying to go through them.
 
neil_g said:
i think thats more with the really old lenses. least my 5-6 year old 70-200 has worked on bodies from 300D up to 1Dmk3 with no bother.
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Didn't Sigma recently have a problem with the Sony A55?

I know certain HSM lenses wouldn't work correctly on the Pentax K-5 when using liveview until we got a firmware update. Never had that with a Pentax SDM lens.
 
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Mike.P said:
Didn't Sigma recently have a problem with the Sony A55?

I know certain HSM lenses wouldn't work correctly on the Pentax K-5 when using liveview until we got a firmware update. Never had that with a Pentax SDM lens.
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you tell me i havent seen it mentioned on here to be honest.. certainly nothing recent in canon and nikon circles.

anyway sony and pentax.. who uses those...

:p
 
Perhaps Nikon haven't thought that their cameras might not be so appealing if your have to buy their more expensive lens and have less choice. Might affect sales in the long run.
 
Must be something incredibly specific as Canon, Tamron, Tokina and Panasonic seem to have evaded the law, or are paying royalties perhaps?
 
It's a bit hypocritical considering that Nikon (and Canon) stole 'borrowed' technology/designs from Ziess in their early days

but I'm sure they have their reasons ;)
 
Spuff said:
It might be cheaper for you to look at getting your wheels balanced first rather than going to the expense of getting VR installed in your car. :cool:
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:lol: Not quite what I ment - :thinking: maybe I should've worded it better :$
 
swanseamale47 said:
Perhaps Nikon haven't thought that their cameras might not be so appealing if your have to buy their more expensive lens and have less choice. Might affect sales in the long run.
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Not that old chestnut..
 
Patent fights can be tricky. Some companies will have licensed the technology from others to allow them to develop their own solutions, other companies will have agreed not to sue each other over specific patents if both companies have patents the other wants.

From the looks of the press statement, Nikon said "We think you infringe, give us a load of money" and Sigma told them where to go, which would mean that Sigma either don't think they infringe on the patent in question, or that they don't think the patent will hold up in court.

wilko said:
Free enterprise doesn't come into it if Sigma have bought, and stripped down say a 70-200 VRII and reverse engineered it to use in the design of their new OS system??? I'm not saying that is what they have done, however, they may well have done and been found out???
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It doesn't matter whether they reverse engineered it or developed it totally independently, if Nikon got the patent submitted first it will count as Sigma infringing (if they do in fact infringe). I don't know about in Japan, but in some areas (US / Europe) if the defendant is found to have knowingly infringed a patent they are charged triple damages - thats the point at which Sigma's method of duplication becomes interesting (if the same rules apply in Japan).


Alan Clogwyn said:
Must be something incredibly specific as Canon, Tamron, Tokina and Panasonic seem to have evaded the law, or are paying royalties perhaps?
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The patent probably isn't on something as broad as all "vibration reduction for single lens reflex cameras", there will be some specific method that they use to accomplish this which will be patented.
 
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Lesco said:
I agree what ever happend to free enterprise
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It boldy went where no man had gone before.
Oh wait a minute, that was the Starship Enterprise!!!
:bonk::bonk::bonk:
 
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