US may ban import of HDDs - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 12th Oct 2007, 13:23

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/10...port_of_hdds/1

The International Trade Commission is investigating patent infringements in the manufacture of HDDs. The result could be a ban on hard drive imports for some brands.

MilkMan5 · 12th Oct 2007, 13:42

I will be very surprised if the ban happens.
Or is this October Fools day.

naokaji · 12th Oct 2007, 13:47

they prolly just gonna fine them if found guilty... after all.. the us government needs to make up for the cost of the war in iraq....

yakyb · 12th Oct 2007, 14:12

this will only mean higher prices for a short amount of time i dont see any real issue here

what patent did they infringe upon?

wolff000 · 12th Oct 2007, 14:19

I sure the hell hope it doesn't happen. My company can't afford to pay any more for parts than we already do.

Bluephoenix · 12th Oct 2007, 14:27

considering how much the gov. depends on hard drives as much as the rest of us, I don't see this happening. maybe a fine and a turnover of any bans as being "against the interests of national security"

Hells_Bliss · 12th Oct 2007, 14:36

If there's a shortfall of HDD's in America, the government will just seize them under the Patriot act

MilkMan5 · 12th Oct 2007, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by yakyb

... what patent did they infringe upon?

I was actually thinking about this as well !!!
Could it be something to do with its platter technology.

Also, does this only apply to 3.5inc HDD or 2.5” HDD’s as well!

Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard.

Dell and HP – I did not know they manufactured HDD’s!

Then how will this affect Sony PSP and MS Xbox.

DarkLord7854 · 12th Oct 2007, 14:38

Guess it's time to stock up on hard drives

wbdog206 · 12th Oct 2007, 14:39

geez some people just have to much time to sit and look for
things to whine about .the people that started this lawsuit must
have something to gain.

Burnout21 · 12th Oct 2007, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by yakyb

what patent did they infringe upon?

god im glad i am in the uk! sounds like a load of BS!

kosch · 12th Oct 2007, 14:58

I don't really see this one sticking somehow, imagine the chaos it would cause.

Paradigm Shifter · 12th Oct 2007, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by MilkMan5

Seagate, Western Digital, Toshiba, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard.

Dell and HP – I did not know they manufactured HDD’s!

I've got an old Hewlett-Packard 15K RPM SCSI drive, but I don't know more than that. Not heard of Dell making HDDs themselves, but chances are they rebadge some of the ones they use, and that's why they're getting sued. Why not Samsung as well, though? I understand why not Maxtor, as they've been part of Seagate for a while now...

Sebbo · 12th Oct 2007, 16:18

"The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Steven F. Reiber and Mary L. Reiber, of Lincoln, Calif., and specifically concerns dissipative ceramic bonding tips used in making the hard drives."

patents here http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6354479.html
and here http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6935548.html

sounds like it applies to more than just harddrives

Vash-HT · 12th Oct 2007, 16:55

Those 2 patents don't refer to technology that is actually in a HDD, just tools for manufacturing, unless I'm reading them wrong.

Smilodon · 12th Oct 2007, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paradigm Shifter

I've got an old Hewlett-Packard 15K RPM SCSI drive, but I don't know more than that. Not heard of Dell making HDDs themselves, but chances are they rebadge some of the ones they use, and that's why they're getting sued. Why not Samsung as well, though? I understand why not Maxtor, as they've been part of Seagate for a while now...

All the HP (well, actually Compaq) drives i have seen so far have been made by someone else. I have a drive here from Compaq that says "manufactured by IBM". I also have a drive from about the same time that is from IBM, that says "manufactured for IBM by Seagate"...

Now days IBM drives are the same as Hitachi IIRC. And Maxtor is a part of Seagate.

I guess that leaves us with Seagate, Hitachi and Western Digital. (unsure what Toshiba actually is, though..)

DXR_13KE · 12th Oct 2007, 21:08

wont stick.....

Breach · 12th Oct 2007, 23:46

Meh, the companies already know and Im sure at this very moment redesigning or replacing the tech in question to something else to skate around it.

But, I would seriously doubt they would institute a ban on hard drive imports that would otherwise cripple major and minor PC manufacturers in the US.

steveo_mcg · 13th Oct 2007, 00:37

Just imagine the sudden increase in data off shoring, I doubt india would be able to keep up, google alone must need loads of disk a month.

HourBeforeDawn · 13th Oct 2007, 07:20

lol well this is certainly interesting so what worse case situation is I have to buy by hdds over seas and have them shipped to the US? if they cant be sold state side anymore, hmm well I doubt this will happen isnt there some kind of grandfather clause or something because they have been operating for so long in this country already and have so much in twined with them?

12th Oct 2007, 13:23	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,945	US may ban import of HDDs http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/10...port_of_hdds/1 The International Trade Commission is investigating patent infringements in the manufacture of HDDs. The result could be a ban on hard drive imports for some brands. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

12th Oct 2007, 13:42	#2
MilkMan5 Yeah man... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: On earth Posts: 183	I will be very surprised if the ban happens. Or is this October Fools day. __________________ Gigabyte Poseidon Case - GA-M59SLI-S5 - AMD Athlon64 4000+ - nVIDIA 8600GT 512MB - 4Gig DDR-II - Logitech Lazer Mouse I say "There are no problems, only solutions"

12th Oct 2007, 14:12	#4
yakyb CK is God!!! Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,063	this will only mean higher prices for a short amount of time i dont see any real issue here what patent did they infringe upon? __________________ Gaming Box:: q6600 @3.0 :: 9800gtx :: Abit IP35 :: 4gb :: 1.4TB :: akasa eclipse :: Win7 Development:: PhenomII 955BE @3.2 :: 4200 :: asus M4A785 M Evo :: 1.25TB ::Win7 Media Centre :: q6600 @3.0 :: x1950pro :: asus p35 epu :: 8gb :: 320 GB :: Lc17B :: Win7 server:: I7 860 :: p55 gd65 :: 3450 :: 8 TB :: 8gb :: Rebel 12 :: server 2008 R2

12th Oct 2007, 14:19	#5
wolff000 I am here to steal your secrets. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Never-never Land Posts: 196	I sure the hell hope it doesn't happen. My company can't afford to pay any more for parts than we already do. __________________ The gospel accordong to Myamoto, Chatper three, verse six..."And it is written that the gaming of man will die, and rest silent for two years. But on the eighty-fifth year of the twentieth century, it shall rise again. And its triumphant return shall be heralded by two great plumbers and thou will know gaming has been born again."

12th Oct 2007, 14:36	#7
Hells_Bliss Supermodder Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NC, USA Posts: 548	If there's a shortfall of HDD's in America, the government will just seize them under the Patriot act __________________ Asus P5N32-SLi Extreme, Intel Conroe E6600 @ 2.4GHz, 4GB Corsair XMS2 @ 1060MHz, eVGA GeForce 8800 GTX @ 621MHz, 2 WD 250GB 7200RPM HDD's, Creative Soundblaster Fatal1ty pro

12th Oct 2007, 14:27	#6
Bluephoenix Spoon? What spoon? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 936	considering how much the gov. depends on hard drives as much as the rest of us, I don't see this happening. maybe a fine and a turnover of any bans as being "against the interests of national security"

12th Oct 2007, 14:38	#9
DarkLord7854 Web Developer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 3,826	Guess it's time to stock up on hard drives __________________ Current Computer: eVGA 780i Motherboard \| Q6600 Core2Quad \| eVGA GTX260 896Mbs 216-core \| 2x Seagate 500Gbs \| 8Gbs OCZ Platinum DDR2 800 \| Creative XtremeGamer X-Fi \| Thermaltake Armor Case Custom WordPress, ZenCart, Joomla, vBulletin, etc installs and skinning, PM/E-Mail for a quote

12th Oct 2007, 14:39	#10
wbdog206 Don't mind me. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the middle of nowhere Posts: 373	geez some people just have to much time to sit and look for things to whine about .the people that started this lawsuit must have something to gain. __________________ Of all the things I have lost, I miss my mind the most.

12th Oct 2007, 14:58	#12
kosch Trango in the Mango Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 191	I don't really see this one sticking somehow, imagine the chaos it would cause. __________________ [b]Really needs updating! - http://www.kosch.co.uk/

12th Oct 2007, 16:18	#14
Sebbo Multimodder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Brissy, Australia Posts: 177	"The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Steven F. Reiber and Mary L. Reiber, of Lincoln, Calif., and specifically concerns dissipative ceramic bonding tips used in making the hard drives." patents here http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6354479.html and here http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6935548.html sounds like it applies to more than just harddrives __________________ If you and dead people know hex, how many people know hex? Obligitory PC spec's: Intel Core i7 920, ASUS P6T Deluxe, 12GB Corsair Dominator PC-12800, Sapphire HD5870, WD Velociraptor 300GB HLFS, Samsung Spinpoint 1TB, Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro, Logitech G15 and G9, Logitech Z-5500 5.1 speakers, Dell 2408WFP 24" monitor

12th Oct 2007, 16:55	#15
Vash-HT Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 193	Those 2 patents don't refer to technology that is actually in a HDD, just tools for manufacturing, unless I'm reading them wrong.

12th Oct 2007, 21:08	#17
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,466	wont stick..... __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

12th Oct 2007, 23:46	#18
Breach Supermodder Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: WA Posts: 354	Meh, the companies already know and Im sure at this very moment redesigning or replacing the tech in question to something else to skate around it. But, I would seriously doubt they would institute a ban on hard drive imports that would otherwise cripple major and minor PC manufacturers in the US. __________________ Project :: SSC (Super Sport Computer)

13th Oct 2007, 00:37	#19
steveo_mcg What owl? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,978	Just imagine the sudden increase in data off shoring, I doubt india would be able to keep up, google alone must need loads of disk a month. __________________ No boom today, boom tomorrow... there's always a boom tomorrow.

13th Oct 2007, 07:20	#20
HourBeforeDawn a.k.a KazeModz Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cali, USA Posts: 1,785	lol well this is certainly interesting so what worse case situation is I have to buy by hdds over seas and have them shipped to the US? if they cant be sold state side anymore, hmm well I doubt this will happen isnt there some kind of grandfather clause or something because they have been operating for so long in this country already and have so much in twined with them? __________________ Current Rig: RubyRED • Lian-Li A05B • (2) Swiftech 220 Radiators • (2) D5 Variable Pumps • (2) Res • and a whole lot of modding • Retired Rig: Project F.E.A.R. • TT Lanbox Lite • Swiftech H2O-120 • Q6600 G0 OC@3.6ghz • 2900XT • 4gb SuperTalent Memory •