Hands0n
30th December 2005, 08:19 AM
Any search on the word "Qualcomm" on technology reporting sites such as The Register and VNUnet (to name but two) will bring up a raft of articles about the company [Qualcomm] and its raft of litigation against manufacturers across the globe.
Very basically, Qualcomm claim to hold patent on a large number of technologies fundamental to 2G and 3G. Patents without which the [2G and 3G] networks could not possibly be created. In short and essentially, Qualcomm own all 2G and 3G networking. Without Qualcomm licencing it is impossible to manufacture any 2G or 3G technology.
Can this be good for Planet Earth? Should one individual company have such overall hold on such enabling technologies. More specifically, should one single corporation have such a hold on the world's technology - of which there is no single competition. Further, should such a corporation be permitted to act quite so litigiously against the world's manufacturers of 2G and 3G technology (network and handset)?
Qualcomm appears to win unfettered support from the US legal establishment. It is being challenged within the EU by manufacturers from four continents for unfair licencing practices and charges, will it win here as well?
Is 4G an opportunity to exclude the highly litigious Qualcomm from the entire process and thereby create a truly World-owned standard for communication, and consign Qualcomm to the bin of the hitorically infamous?
"Those who believe that Qualcomm's intellectual property portfolio is limited to CDMA have overlooked the breadth of our business activity and the extent of our research and development from which our intellectual property is generated.
"Our intellectual property rights are broad, and we will not hesitate to assert their full breadth when appropriate."
Source: http://www.computing.co.uk/vnunet/news/2139638/qualcomm-broadcom-patent-battle?vnu_lt=ctg_art_related_articles
Very basically, Qualcomm claim to hold patent on a large number of technologies fundamental to 2G and 3G. Patents without which the [2G and 3G] networks could not possibly be created. In short and essentially, Qualcomm own all 2G and 3G networking. Without Qualcomm licencing it is impossible to manufacture any 2G or 3G technology.
Can this be good for Planet Earth? Should one individual company have such overall hold on such enabling technologies. More specifically, should one single corporation have such a hold on the world's technology - of which there is no single competition. Further, should such a corporation be permitted to act quite so litigiously against the world's manufacturers of 2G and 3G technology (network and handset)?
Qualcomm appears to win unfettered support from the US legal establishment. It is being challenged within the EU by manufacturers from four continents for unfair licencing practices and charges, will it win here as well?
Is 4G an opportunity to exclude the highly litigious Qualcomm from the entire process and thereby create a truly World-owned standard for communication, and consign Qualcomm to the bin of the hitorically infamous?
"Those who believe that Qualcomm's intellectual property portfolio is limited to CDMA have overlooked the breadth of our business activity and the extent of our research and development from which our intellectual property is generated.
"Our intellectual property rights are broad, and we will not hesitate to assert their full breadth when appropriate."
Source: http://www.computing.co.uk/vnunet/news/2139638/qualcomm-broadcom-patent-battle?vnu_lt=ctg_art_related_articles