> Brian Behlendorf wrote, [on 5/3/2008 11:04 PM]: > > >It's possible. We are already seeing examples of Chinese firms filing > >patents, in Chinese, and then suing foreign firms for voilating those > >patents: > > > >http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/29/content_6814576.htm
although the implication that there is something gibsonian (or doctorow-esque) about this is appealing, i'd like to point out that the Chint, the chinese company in that news report, is not some corner-shop operator but a $2bil company, the 15th largest in china, which is trying to compete against schneider in europe. they have patents in europe too, necessarily translated into german etc in order to enforce them locally. patents in china are enforced in chinese, so foreign companies like schneider that sell in china (and only thus are liable to be sued by chinese patent holders) must be fully capable of reading these patents! if your patent is chinese, it has to be in chinese, and you can only sue firms for their activities in china. the same goes for jurisdiction and langauge in germany, the US or anywhere else! -rishab >
