Are patent claims coming for your WS2812?

hackaday.com

18 points·dazhbog··4 comments

IANAPANEC (I am not a patent attorney, not even close), but all the claims in the patent start with:

> a power input, extending to form an extension section, a power output, a clock input, a clock output, a serial data input and a serial data output;

The WS2812 has four pins: power, ground, data in, data out. Doesn't that mean the patent does not apply?

Forgive my naivety, but surely patent violation claims should be made against WorldSemi and not third parties who happen to use these devices either in their designs or sell products that happen to utilise WS28128's?

Maybe someone with more experience in this area of patent legals could enlighten me?

If a patent claim is made against a large company they are likely to fight back legally. If multiple claims are made against small sellers, they are likely to either stop selling, or settle. Settling means money and possibly some legal precedent (IANAL).

I've heard of practices like this in several different industries. It seems to be a tactic that has little to do with the actual purpose (intent) of the patent system.

Oh sure, I'm aware of trying to shakedown smaller and likely less well financed companies.

I'm curious though as to the legality of targeting sellers and not the claimed infringing manufacturer? As a small reseller could you legally/safely ignore the cease and desist?

Also Pimoroni are under UK jurisdiction, so I'm wondering if these tactics are even legal here?

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