FTC denied Dell patent rights to VESA VL bus in 1996

Hello,

I understand (from reading
http://www.gtwassociates.com/answers/ftccom.html) that
the FTC contended in 1996 that an undisclosed patent required to
implement a
standard (the VESA VL bus for personal computers) couldn't be enforced
by Dell
Computer, since Dell's representative on the standard committee didn't
disclose the
patent during the standardization process.  This seems like a relevant
precedent for future "hidden" patents -- rather than allowing the
holders to collect
royalties, the FTC seems to feel that such patents should be essentially
invalidated.

--
Jim Davies
Senior Engineer
Neocore Inc.
jdavies@neocore.com

"There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path."
-- Morpheus, "The Matrix"

Received on Thursday, 4 October 2001 15:51:35 UTC