Yes, but they're arguing in the letter that the work is _also_ disclosing information that would allow their competitors to know how DisplayLink works. You can't have it both ways.

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kube-system 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Yeah, that statement clearly is making IP claims beyond patent infringement, they just didn't elaborate. They didn't say it's patent infringement because of that.

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zarzavat an hour ago | parent [-]

Merely reverse engineering for interoperability is not a violation of any type of IP in the US.

	▲	kube-system an hour ago \| parent [-]
		1. Reverse engineering for interoperability gives you a defense for copyright and trade secret claims in the US. It provides zero protection from patent claims. "reverse engineering a patent" doesn't even make any sense. Patents are public, there's nothing to reverse engineer. You could "reverse engineer a specfiic implementation of a patent", but the only thing you'd be accomplishing is just avoiding infringing on the parts of the implementation that are subject to copyright or trade secret protections. You'd still be violating the patent. 2. I'm not saying their arguments are valid. It's a demand letter with multiple claims. There's many reasons it might be an invalid argument but listing more than one grievance and/or not explaining them in detail are not some of those reasons.

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ssl-3 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

A thing can be encumbered by both patents and trade secrets, can it not?

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sysguest 2 hours ago | parent [-]

well technically, yes and no

if I patent a microwave and specify exactly how it works, that part can't be trade secret

BUT if my trade secret is on using ruby diamond for deluxe premium microwave lazor THAT isn't specified on the patent, well that be a trade secret

but trade secret CAN ONLY BE PUNISHED IF someone insider leaks the info -- not much can be done if some junk collector finds out about the ruby stuff

	▲	ssl-3 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Right. But lawyers are prone to using scary phrasing, even if that phrasing has no bite, and are free to write strongly-worded letters. "I see that you've been publishing the privately-held, trade secret tomato processing technique I developed -- on the Internet! Now, tomato processors everywhere can see it! I'm really pissed! I demand that you stop doing this immediately! In fact, if you want a full enumeration of whar I really think about the terrible things you're doing, then I further demand that you pay me $25,000 for that effort!" ...it's got no bite, but it's a letter. It can be drafted and sent. (It can also be ignored upon receipt.)