----- Original Message -----
From: "Maarten ter Huurne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 11:24 PM
Subject: Re: Exclusive interview about Konami and the S.C.C. (plus cracking
software stuff)
> On Friday 01 June 2001 23:07, you wrote:
>
> > SEGA ? What SEGA has to do with MSX ?
> > Remember, SEGA holds parts from patents that were from ASCII regarding
MSX
> > dedicated LSIs such as the VDPs (V9938 and V9958) and since they gave up
> > from hardware I think it will be more dificult to get authorizations to
> > build compatible devices legally ...
>
> I hear a lot of people talking about patents on MSX chips. Could anyone
point
> out exactly what parts of the designs are patented and by who? Since the
> stories about patents are so vague, I am starting to believe they are
rumors
> rather than facts. After all, patent claims are always published, that is
> part of the concept.
Probably those are really rumours, but it's fact that who control ASCII and
has
influency with Yamaha can make a new MSX if it is intended ...
Former owners from those patents are ASCII and Yamaha. ASCII is owned by
the CSK group right now. SEGA is also a part of the CSK group. SEGA also has
a long history of partnership with Yamaha and Hitachi (15 yrs for sure maybe
even
more)
> This is not criticism against you, it's just a general feeling that's
> bothering me increasingly. However, if you could give some details on
SEGA's
> patents, it would ease my mind.
SEGA doesn't "owns" those patents directly ... The CSK group bought ASCII
some years ago, I belive on the interest of keeping control of that shared
patents ASCII
has with Yamaha on the MSX enhanced VDPs and other game related devices.
It's because
SEGA used that hardware technology indirectly on their home and arcade
hardware.
> > I think you guys know what I mean ...
>
> Why act so mysteriously? The "MSX Revival" project is not a secret, we can
> discuss it openly.
I didn't meant to be misterious, it just happened ... (sorry) I meant
that you cannot build a device
that is already owned by someone even if it has a different internal
functioning but performs
the function that is registered (protected) by the patent ...
By that I mean that if CSK has no interest in the MSX or even worse it has
interest in denying it,
they can do. (Not that I think they even care about. I guess they have
enough problems right now ...)
This situation reminds me from several years ago when AMD got sued by Intel
by creating a diferent
CPU that were able to run 80386 code...
Cya MSXer ...
P.S.: I don't know nor I have even a idea on how those companies would react
if someone put up
a complete working new MSX product (complete computer) on the market using
their patented
technology ... At this point only speculation is possible ... :)
--
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