Cooler Master found guilty in Asetek patent suit

[BiG StroOnZ]

Liquid cooling specialist Asetek has won its lawsuit against rival Cooler Master, with a jury finding that the company had infringed an Asetek-held patent with its Seidon family of all-in-one cooler

 

Asetek filed a suit against its rival back in March last year claiming that it had infringed US Patent 8240362and its revised update Patent 8245764 with the launch of the Seidon family of all-in-one sealed-loop liquid coolers. Now, a California jury has reached a verdict: Cooler Master USA, now known as CMI USA Incorporated, has indeed infringed 8245764 and must pay Asetek damages of $404,941 based on a royalty rate of 14.5 per cent.

 

 

 

Source: http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2014/12/19/cooler-master-asetek-patent/1

 

Feel bad for Cooler Master, they should have just done a licensing deal with Asetek like many other companies do. Some will say this is patent trolling, but Asetek does make and design AIO coolers from their patents. Many companies get licensed deals through Asetek, like Corsair.

 

Also tried searching for a decent amount of time, couldn't find it posted at least through Google search function.

[patrickjp93]

Bah, Asetek builds crap all the way around and has IP that shouldn't even be patented at this point since it was derived from existing custom loop designs. Screw Asetek and their lawsuits. 

[Tedster]

That's news to me.

 

Yes, Asetek's being horrible...

 

Thanks for posting.

[BiG StroOnZ]

Bah, Asetek builds crap all the way around and has IP that shouldn't even be patented at this point since it was derived from existing custom loop designs. Screw Asetek and their lawsuits. 

 

The Corsair H110 and H105 are Asetek units (as are the NZXT Kraken X61 and X41) and they perform pretty damn well, so not sure what you are talking about. 

[patrickjp93]

The Corsair H110 and H105 are Asetek units and they perform pretty damn well, so not sure what you are talking about.

Take the actual block out of the unit, look at the jet plate and fins, and try that again. The only things Asetek are the damn interconnects and the trade dress.

[BiG StroOnZ]

Take the actual block out of the unit, look at the jet plate and fins, and try that again. The only things Asetek are the damn interconnects and the trade dress.

 

Their patents have to do with having the pump as part of the cold plate or block, what are you saying?

[patrickjp93]

Their patents have to do with having the pump as part of the cold plate, what are you saying?

That's not all they have patents on, and honestly Asetek stole those designs from Swiftech and enthusiasts who had built it before them.

 

Asetek is the reason no one else builds GPU AIOs either. It has a total monopoly on all the basic IP required to build one. It's a completely parasitic company holding the tech world back.

[OCing Noob]

Source: http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2014/12/19/cooler-master-asetek-patent/1

 

Feel bad for Cooler Master, they should have just done a licensing deal with Asetek like many other companies do. Some will say this is patent trolling, but Asetek does make and design AIO coolers from their patents. Many companies get licensed deals through Asetek, like Corsair.

 

Also tried searching for a decent amount of time, couldn't find it posted at least through Google search function.

 

its their personal problem. i don't give a damn who sued who. when i need something i just simply go to market after reading review about best to buy according to my need and buy that . if not available then 2nd best . i don't care about brand name i care about performance for what i paid. just look at one thing in all this case "what's in it for you?" Nothing ? then leave it.

[BiG StroOnZ]

That's not all they have patents on, and honestly Asetek stole those designs from Swiftech and enthusiasts who had built it before them.

 

Asetek is the reason no one else builds GPU AIOs either. It has a total monopoly on all the basic IP required to build one. It's a completely parasitic company holding the tech world back.

 

Anyone could have patented those designs at any time, but Andre Eriksen was the first to do it. From a business standpoint, not from an enthusiast standpoint you cannot deny that he made a good decision because in order for anyone else to build one they have to go through Asetek to get a license first.

 

Technically, you don't really need a GPU AIO but rather a bracket and then you add your own AIO to it as we see with the NZXT Kraken G10. If GPU manufactuers want to watercool their GPU's from the factory they can get a license through Asetek. They might have a monopoly on certain aspects of AIO water cooling, but there are many pseudo-monopolies in this industry eg. Intel. 

[Maslofski]

they better not pull the 120v until i got one *_*

[AHaskin14]

Well whoever invented it, my Seidon 120 XL has been a very impressive cooler with 2 Cougar vortex PWM's. I got the cooler itself for $45 a year ago, not bad.

[Kingofpants]

You should have what the patent is in the post.

[cesrai]

I think Astek is worse than apple.

[patrickjp93]

Anyone could have patented those designs at any time, but Andre Eriksen was the first to do it. From a business standpoint, not from an enthusiast standpoint you cannot deny that he made a good decision because in order for anyone else to build one they have to go through Asetek to get a license first.

 

Technically, you don't really need a GPU AIO but rather a bracket and then you add your own AIO to it as we see with the NZXT Kraken G10. If GPU manufactuers want to watercool their GPU's from the factory they can get a license through Asetek. They might have a monopoly on certain aspects of AIO water cooling, but there are many pseudo-monopolies in this industry eg. Intel. 

He had no right to patent them. They were already public domain designs. That is the travesty.

 

Intel exists legitimately as the one who provides the best products and who won market share by doing so. Having a monopoly on x86 is nothing more than a monopoly on the instruction set it created. We have ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, and other instruction set architectures out there. The two ideas of monopoly are not equivalent.

[Opcode]

Bah, Asetek builds crap all the way around and has IP that shouldn't even be patented at this point since it was derived from existing custom loop designs. Screw Asetek and their lawsuits. 

I'm running even the custom FX loop that Asetek designed for AMD. Ran 24/7 for over a year and a half now without a single hiccup.

[Simons]

I find it so stupid that one can sue another, because they design something along these lines. It would be the same as a car manufactor sueing another car manufactor for their way of designing their cooling system.

[ManWithBeard1990]

Didn't this happen like ages ago? They only came to a decision on this just now? Bloody hell, took them long enough didn't it.

[BiG StroOnZ]

He had no right to patent them. They were already public domain designs. That is the travesty.

 

Intel exists legitimately as the one who provides the best products and who won market share by doing so. Having a monopoly on x86 is nothing more than a monopoly on the instruction set it created. We have ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, and other instruction set architectures out there. The two ideas of monopoly are not equivalent.

 

Why didn't he have a right to patent them? People patent things all the time that people never thought of patenting and they profit from other peoples lack of opportunity. Then they sit there and say, "Why didn't I think of that." If Swiftech held the same patents, we wouldn't be having this conversation and you would be praising them.

 

They are only not equivalent because you happen to like Intel, so they are automatically excused. Sounds more like hypocrisy. There are other designs for AIO coolers out there that aren't licensed by Asetek. Just like you gave examples of other instructions sets there are other AIO Coolers that aren't licensed by Asetek and quite a handful of them.

[patrickjp93]

I'm running even the custom FX loop that Asetek designed for AMD. Ran 24/7 for over a year and a half now without a single hiccup.

Sturdy and quality are not synonymous when we're talking about performance computing.

[patrickjp93]

Why didn't he have a right to patent them? People patent things all the time that people never thought of patenting and they profit from other peoples lack of opportunity.

 

They are only not equivalent because you happen to like Intel, so they are automatically excused. Sounds more like hypocrisy. There are other designs for AIO coolers out there that aren't licensed by Asetek.

Are you joking? It's the very reason academic research exists: some things are too important to be allowed in the hands of monopolists and thieving businessmen the likes of Asetek. If designs are released to the public/were already public knowledge, most countries in the world have laws that say you cannot place a patent on it. In the case of AIO coolers, sorry but enthusiasts were building them out of scrap parts forever, and you can find pictures from a lot of the big overclocking competitions where it becomes steadily obvious Asetek and others completely ripped off the designs without even hiring the enthusiasts who built the tech.

 

Sorry businesses are not given free reign for exactly this reason.

 

No, Intel has its monopoly because it delivers the best, not because it has no feasible competition. Asetek delivers mediocre performance but has no competition due to its extensive, fraudulent IP claims like this.

 

You're the one who claimed they were equivalent. Why?

[Opcode]

Sturdy and quality are not synonymous when we're talking about performance computing.

What does computing have to do with the reliability of product designs. You said their units suck and I'm throwing it out there that I own one of their most generic units that has handled nearly 14k hours of continuous use without any issues at all. Solid temperatures and no changes while retaining a like brand new condition.

[BiG StroOnZ]

Are you joking? It's the very reason academic research exists: some things are too important to be allowed in the hands of monopolists and thieving businessmen the likes of Asetek. If designs are released to the public/were already public knowledge, most countries in the world have laws that say you cannot place a patent on it. In the case of AIO coolers, sorry but enthusiasts were building them out of scrap parts forever, and you can find pictures from a lot of the big overclocking competitions where it becomes steadily obvious Asetek and others completely ripped off the designs without even hiring the enthusiasts who built the tech.

 

Sorry businesses are not given free reign for exactly this reason.

 

No, Intel has its monopoly because it delivers the best, not because it has no feasible competition. Asetek delivers mediocre performance but has no competition due to its extensive, fraudulent IP claims like this.

 

You're the one who claimed they were equivalent. Why?

 

You ignored the statement where I said if Swiftech held the same patents we wouldn't be having this conversation. You ignored it, because it's true. You wouldn't be saying a single thing because you like Swiftech. Firstly, even if, a big if, they "stole the designs." Why dont you use some common freaking sense here because your thought process is completely skewed and biased. If you have a design for something and you know it is profitable. Why are you going around showing people in public your invention instead of getting a patent for it first? Blame the individual themselves. This happens in the world on a daily basis, two people create something and one brings it to market first because they hold the patent. Sometimes it is simply coincidence. You have no solid proof that Asetek stole the designs. It could be merely coincidence, the founder of Asetek went to MIT he's not exactly a moron

 

Businesses are not given free reign when they are businesses you don't like. Again hypocrisy.

 

I could say the same about Asetek. Asetek does not have mediocre performance; the H105, H110 and Kraken X61 are some of the best coolers on the market. You keep saying "bad performance or mediocre performance" and you are just outright lying. Do you even know the numbers for the H105, H110 and X61? Obviously not because you wouldn't be saying such nonsense if you did.

 

The idea that one monopoly is okay and the other is not, is a nullified concept. It simply does not make sense. You cannot say one monopoly is okay because they make the best products. Then the other monopoly isn't okay because YOU THINK they dont make the best products. When in fact they do. The H105, H110, and Kraken X61 are some of the best coolers on the market and they are all made by Asetek. 

[Notional]

Of course Asetek won. Cooler Master outright copy pasted Asetek's design and patented solution. This is EXACTLY what patents where made to prevent: IP/tech theft, which Means this has nothing to do with patent trolling, but everything to do with the purpose of patents.

 

There is no such thing as "monopoly" in this regard. As long as you can get alternatives (aircooling, custom watercooling, etc.), no monopoly can exist. Furthermore, if this patented design had already existed, the patent would be rendered void and annulled. Certainly CM would try and do that in the court, but failed. 

 

Asetek invented this solution and design, so they own it. Pay up or shut up. It is not that difficult to understand.

[patrickjp93]

What does computing have to do with the reliability of product designs. You said their units suck and I'm throwing it out there that I own one of their most generic units that has handled nearly 14k hours of continuous use without any issues at all. Solid temperatures and no changes while retaining a like brand new condition.

Just because it continues to work doesn't mean it has high quality. EK and Aquacomputer could both make far better ones. No one in their right mind would dispute this. The Devil 13 air cooler outperformed Asetek's solution for the 295x2. That's as damning as it gets for how low quality Asetek's units are. Reliability is easy to achieve.

[patrickjp93]

 

You ignored the statement where I said if Swiftech held the same patents we wouldn't be having this conversation. You ignored it, because it's true. You wouldn't be saying a single thing because you like Swiftech. Firstly, even if, a big if, they "stole the designs." Why dont you use some common freaking sense here because your thought process is completely skewed and biased. If you have a design for something and you know it is profitable. Why are you going around showing people in public your invention instead of getting a patent for it first? Blame the individual themselves. This happens in the world on a daily basis, two people create something and one brings it to market first because they hold the patent. Sometimes it is simply coincidence. You have no solid proof that Asetek stole the designs. It could be merely coincidence, the founder of Asetek went to MIT he's not exactly a moron

 

Businesses are not given free reign when they are businesses you don't like. Again hypocrisy.

 

I could say the same about Asetek. Asetek does not have mediocre performance; the H105, H110 and Kraken X61 are some of the best coolers on the market. You keep saying "bad performance or mediocre performance" and you are just outright lying. Do you even know the numbers for the H105, H110 and X61? Obviously not because you wouldn't be saying such nonsense if you did.

 

The idea that one monopoly is okay and the other is not, is a nullified concept. It simply does not make sense. You cannot say one monopoly is okay because they make the best products. Then the other monopoly isn't okay because YOU THINK they dont make the best products. When in fact they do. The H105, H110, and Kraken X61 are some of the best coolers on the market and they are all made by Asetek. 

 

No, any company that takes hostage the entire industry by patenting what were publicly known designs is immoral! I'd be damning Swiftech the same way! I don't even use their products for crying out loud. The only one in my family who does is my Dad, and all he has left is an old quad radiator.

 

The idea of the designs originally was not to make a profit. It was to have fun competing on the world stage to show what people could do. You're the one off his rocker here! It wasn't about business and profits until Asetek locked up public domain knowledge.

 

I have plenty of proof. I competed alongside the people who made the originals back in 06,7, and 8. Assuming those same people weren't hired by Asetek, they're wide open to a class action lawsuit for theft of intellectual property, improper sales and patenting, and all sorts of financial law violations to the effect.

 

Jonathan Gruber went to MIT and graduated Suma Cum Laude. He's still an idiot. 

 

No, no business is EVER given free reign. If Intel is proved to be using anti-competitive practices, they deserve to be handed down a criminal sentence to that regard. Asetek should be dissolved.

 

Their CPU AIOs are okay. their GPU designs are dirt poor. The Devil 13 air cooler beats out Asetek's unit for the 295x2 by a significant margin. Sorry, but asetek is shit. 

 

I do know the numbers. I can build better with custom components, but that's a given.

 

No, the idea that one monopoly was earned the right way is not nullified. If you are the best of the best, providing the best service, not cutting your competition out with anti-competitive practices, that is a just monopoly that doesn't hold a market hostage. Asetek is the polar opposite of this idea.

 

Again, no. Swiftech beats a few of them, and I can still do better with custom parts. When certified engineers beat me, then they're good, because I'm not that amazing myself.