Judge bins Apple's plea to slash $368m FaceTime patent damages

Apple has lost a bid to reduce its $368m damages bill owed after its video-call service FaceTime infringed VirnetX's VPN patents. The fruity firm wanted to reduce the cash it would have to hand over following a jury verdict of infringement or, failing that, a new trial. But the judge in the Texan court case denied both …

[Ted Treen]

It's all getting too much...

Some patent lawsuits are no doubt valid:- Goliath shouldn't steal from David - OR vice versa.

Others are purely trolling and without any merit - judgements in the good ol' Lone Star State being particularly suspect.

Unfortunately the rest of us are heartily sick of these as many appear to be a variant of playground squabbles and if all of the time and cash thrown in their direction was instead invested in R&D, we could have more competition and improving products, whether it's Samsung, Apple, Microsoft or even old MacDonald producing them.

Innovators must have protection from the rapacious sharks, but Patent Lawyers are usually the most rapacious and shark-like. There must be a better way.

[Louis Buxey-Softley]

Well About Time

I think its good for apple to get some of there own medicine to be honest. I thought they were a god company and couldn't do nothing wrong?

They need to come off there high horse and come to the realisation that there product is not a niche product anymore. Come down to this planet. World + dog now has an iPhone.

[Lord Elpuss]

Re: Well About Time

There = their

[Louis Buxey-Softley]

Re: Well About Time

Watch out everyone!

The Spelling police are about!

Nothing better to do? lol

[frank ly]

Re: Well About Time

Some things, and some people, can't be improved no matter how hard anyone tries.

[Eddy Ito]

The Spelling police

Actuarially you're swelling of 'there' awes smite connect.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Well About Time

Technically it is a grammatical error. So it would be the grammar police then.

[Neil Greatorex]

Re: Well About Time

Louis Buxey-Softley

Please add "note to self" to your diary.. & include this text within:

When you've fucked up your grammar/spelling - don't respond to the person who points it out, it just makes you look like a tit.

[Fibbles]

Re: Well About Time

To be honest, spending your time pointing out grammatical errors makes you look like a tit.

[Lars]

Re: Well About Time

Nice you where able to understand the sentence although the error. I had some difficulties so thanks again. There are still severe problems with spellcheckers. Apple versus banana, no help, no help at all.

Sill I think you meant there = their.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Well About Time

I often notice errors in spelling or grammar, but am reluctant to point them out because:

1. There may be a medical reason for the error

2. The poster may not be overly familiar with English, and constant criticism may discourage future posts

3. English is an evolving language

4. I am not a latent Fascist, and have no interest in forcing others to comply with my world view

5. It doesn't bother me

[Field Marshal Von Krakenfart]

Pedantic about the pedantic.

No! There not = their

There: used as a function word to introduce a sentence or clause or used as an indefinite substitute for a location

Their: an indefinite singular antecedent of the definite masculine form his or a form of the possessive case.

example: there seems to be a mistake in your post. :-)

[Bob Vistakin]

You're haggling it wrong

I can hear the laughter all the way from South Korea :-)

[ratfox]

He who lives by the sword…

And as you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.

[Lars]

Trying to look at the bright side

I have a feeling that judges are getting a bit fed up, not a bad thing to happen.

[Turtle]

You win some...

.. and you lose some.

[peter 45]

but...but...but

I thought that Apple was the one that innovates valuable IP and it is others that slavishly copy. Sob.

[Jediben]

"While evidence of past harm can be considered by the court, the court cannot engage in counterfactual thinking and determine what might have been,"

If only this judge was involved on all those RIAA/MAFIAA copyright infringement cases, we might have seen some sensible outcomes instead of multi-squillion damages!