Reefers stand up and fight.

[Bill S]

Hmm. Something's "fishy" here. The patent was filed on Dec 15th, 2004. That's well before PFO started shipping fixtures. I think - but I'm not sure - they started shipping in mid '06?

Should have done a patent search first...

[wesheltonj]

I have read the lawsuit and the patent. Just to let you know that a Patent is not the be all and end all that it might sound. If someone can make an improvement and its open then there not much the Patent holder can do, but file a lawsuit for infringement, and hope try to get 6 folks to say that the Patent was infringed. I understand that they want to "protect" their Patent and the way you protect your Patent is to file an lawsuit. Patent lawsuit are contests, generally the one who has the most money wins.

[subsailor]

My whole thig is they Shouldn't have issued so broad a patent It would be like putting a patent on MH bulbs by a company that produces bulbs strictly growing uses. hmmm i would love to be stuck with only one 3700k bulb choice, wouldn,t that be great, Imagine only one reflector you could use period, for that case imagine if the only one bulb choice could be applied to the Flour aspect as well. If you read through the patent it is way to broad of a patent and shouldn't have been granted in the first place. The whole intention of my post of this is that this is a BRICK AND MORTAR plant here in the US that not only puts money in to the US but provides jobs in the US, Not to mention the hobby stuff. Not just some random online thing ordering stuff from overseas and selling it.

[wesheltonj]

There are lots of American business that Patent everything under the sun and when some poor other company does something that might violate there patent, they jump and demand their share.

One only needs to look at the posterboy of Patent lawsuits - SCO and their Unix/Linix suit.

[Mr Cob]

So let me get this right, you're mad because some company who has no interest in marketing their patent towards the marine industry and wont allow their patent to be used by other companies!?!

Sorry, but I dont agree with you. For whatever reason they deemed fit to patent this idea, it is their patent regardless of whether or not you agree with why it is they way it is.

Besides, not having LED's over your aquarium will not end the hobby or its future. Although many of us would like to see LED's full potential in the aquaria trade, it is not a make or break deal. This hobby as well as other forms of lighting for the marine hobby have done just fine without it.

I would certainly like to add that if I were the patent holder of an idea or product, I would not allow any competitors to sale, modify, or promote my idea at all; regardless of whether it is different than its original patent intent. If I found that someone was using my patent, I would seek to either have royalties paid for the use, seek legal action barring the use of my patent, and or any and all other forms that I deem fit to see that my patent stays with me. This is just business like it or not.

Create a patent and lets see how you react when someone else uses it without your permission. I am not starting a fight, I am simply saying, it is the way it is.

Good points...also PATENTS aren't cheap! LOL!

[CoryDude]

I think George C. Scott played the best Patent.

Sounds like a David and Goliath thing, and it's sad that these types of actions stifle ingenuity.

[corkyGramma]

Aaaaurgh, another example of "we cheat'm & How"