Dual SIM handset manufacturers have been asked to stop import of phones as the patent holder (Somasundaram Ramkumar of Madurai) is seeking royalty of Rs. 35/ for every phone shipped to India.
Somasundaram Ramkumar, holds patent (awarded last year) “in India for phones with a plurality of SIM cards allocated to different communication networks” – and since the application is valid for 5 years, companies like Nokia, Samsung, Meridian Mobile and Spice might have to cough up the royalty (source).
Around 100,000 dual-SIM phones are sold in the country every month – @ royalty of Rs. 35/ per phone, you can imagine the value this patent would deliver!
Also see:
Nothing but a classic case of Patent Trolling. Just having a ‘patent’ doesn’t make him a holder of intellectual property. I had personally used a rudimentary Dual-SIM phone on my 10yr old Nokia 3310.. (The one which required to restart the phone to switch to another SIM).. The patent in question was granted just an year ago. Surely the phone manufacturers can fight Mr.Ramkumar in courts on the basis of patenting prior-art.
Well, most of the patents are used for ‘trolling’ purpose only!
after all, how else would you make money of the IP?
No. This guy has actually deviced a circuitry for switching on the fly. That is an invention.
I donno about any other prior-art in this field and donno why the PCT application is withdrawn…. A PCT application cost close to 2lac rupees. This guy seems to be genuine. Anyhow we will know in mater of days.
I see that patent was ‘withdrawn’ – http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=2003075543&IA=IN2003000044&DISPLAY=NATIONAL
What does that mean?
I think we are talking about 1357/CHE/2004 – http://india.bigpatents.org/view/58655/e025303c07c and not 161/MAS/2002 from which the pct application cited by you takes priority.
That only talks about multiple SIM (UIM in this case) cards and connectivity to CDMA towers specifically. I don’t think this one should affect CDMA+GSM connectivity handset.
Disclaimer: I don’t know much about patents
trying to get connect
This is going to be an interesting news to follow for the next couple of weeks (or months!!).
The inventor has published more than 6-7 patents in similar field…He perfectly knew what he was doing.
One of the primary requirement to grant a patent is to have working device (even prototype is fine) which the controller should have examined in case required!!!
Hope this is not another Ramar-Pillai story(the petrol from leaves story) and put our Patent Office in trouble
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@Kasi: I don’t think you require a ‘working device’ to get a patent.
@jeet As far i remember it is required. Because ideas as such cannot be patented…you need to demonstrate the idea (if required) ….well…that is to restrict star-wars dreamers to file for patent.
You don’t need to have a working device but your patent must describe HOW it will work in device – which may or may not exist. Ideas can’t be patented though.
@Kasi: I agree with you on star-wars dreamer front. But An actual working device is not required at all. It’s true that you would need to demonstrate (in principal) how the apparatus will work, but it’s limited to ‘on paper drawings’. I hope some patent lawyer would respond here.
@Jeet: You are right to a certain extent. Working model is not required as long as the specification (description + drawings)enables a person with reasonable skill in the related technology to practice the invention sought to be patented.
The Madras High Court on Monday restrained mobile phone manufacturers Samsung, Mirc Electronics and Spice Mobile and several retailers
from manufacturing and selling multiple SIM holding mobile phones.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News-by-Industry/Restrain-on-multiple-SIM-phones/articleshow/4306311.cms
Its indeed a great news. This clearly exposes how an IP brings money.