Does Altium Designer have any Patents? where?

[Mechatrommer]

maybe this is a weird question, but bear with me pls... lets say a company want to develop a new PCB design software. they can either:
1) try to build something as closely as Altium Designer software by trying it out. only to change some aspects (appearance or functionalities) to avoid being known as copycatting.
2) make their own decision and develop the software independently without giving a damn about Altium. but it turn out in the end, some functionalities of their software are similar or closely resembling Altium's functionalities.

questions: (most important question number 1 first and then 2 and then 3)
1) in order to avoid from being sued, the company need to know in advance what is patented what is not. where they can find patent numbers or records relating to Altium Designer? so they will not develop (intentionally or accidentally) that patent in their own software.
2) maybe a stupid question but i want to make sure all posibilities... is it possible Altium hides their patents and only reveal it in court to sue any software developers they like?
3) is it possible Altium sue the above stated company?

thanks for your help.

[GeoffS]

The only one that pops up after a quick search is this one:

http://patentsobserver.com/public/company/show?company=Altium+Ltd

I don't think designing in similar functionality is a problem, provided you don't use any techniques that Altium may consider proprietary.
Look and feel i..e similar or identical interfaces might be more of an issue.

[KJDS]

The US patants archive is searchable online.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-adv.htm

however none have Altium as the assignee. This doesn't mean they don't control them, it's psosible that they use a Patent firm to look after them.

They also hold copyright over the look and feel of the software, so if it comes out looking the same you're in trouble. What you really need is the services of an IP lawyer to provide advice that is covered by their professional indemnity insurance.

[Marco]

Copyright protection on Look and Feel didn't work for Apple (or Xerox for that matter) which is why they started to get design patents on everything (including rounded corners).

[Mechatrommer]

http://patentsobserver.com/public/company/show?company=Altium+Ltd

thanks GeoffS, but "System for designing re-programmable digital hardware platforms" is quite general. i believe there are many system like this? but it is as general as "System for drawing a straight line on a computer monitor". i dont see any link to more detailed explanation of the system.

I don't think designing in similar functionality is a problem, provided you don't use any techniques that Altium may consider proprietary.
Look and feel i..e similar or identical interfaces might be more of an issue.

yes, similarities in GUI is very obvious and easy to avoid. but the "functionalities" or "technologies" is not so obvious. such as:
1) is grouping several schematics, pcb, libs in one project file patentable? or patented?
2) is functionality to be able to insert/import enclosure's 3D model into pcb 3D file or data for clearance checking patented?
3) mcu programming (IDE), compiling, debugging and testing it on the related PCB circuit (the IDE is built in the EDA). can anybody do it? or just Altium has the right?
and many others relating functionalities. i think it sounds stupid if one can patent the 3 examples above but who knows? someone said you can patent air if you have the money. and you cannot design a round corner handphone Apple will sue you.

@KJDS. yes i know possibly each country has they own patent service site and searchable, i only ask if someone aware of patents owned by Altium and can provide the numbers quickly. otherwise i'll just sweep the whole internet when my connection speed is max. thanks

They also hold copyright over the look and feel of the software, so if it comes out looking the same you're in trouble.

but then, what criteria to judge it as the "same", without specific description then we are blind. if another software has only different color, will it avoid patent infringment?

@Marco: ditto! the rounded corner! will be interesting if someone has the patent number, but that is another OT.

ps: i googled earlier just to read a "patent infringement case" by Altium vs Uniloc. but as i read it through the middle of the text just to realize its a different Altium based in USA developing distributed licenses server based system sigh. my connection is not so good now will search later.

[tszaboo]

In civilized countries, you cannot patent software, because it is ridiculous. I think Australia is one of them, Europe is definitely. So I would really consider not to have a sales in the US. But of course, this is up to the people with MBA.

[Mechatrommer]

yes yes i agree one should not patent software esp if its just purely out of one's arse... software patentability is not very well defined yet (after 30 years?).. then i'll take the answer as no. Altium or 99% of other software developers out there have no patent and should not apply one http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/12/06/the-supreme-court-could-abolish-software-patents-next-year-heres-why-it-should/

[zapta]

Typically products list the parents they are based on so I'd you have access to their product you can look it up.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[EEVblog]

Altium wasn't into Patents. The only one I can recall while I worked there was that one linked, and when it got granted they made a big to-do about it.
Patents must be public, and no one else controls Altium but Altium, so if it's not in Altium's name, it does not exist.

[EEVblog]

however none have Altium as the assignee. This doesn't mean they don't control them, it's psosible that they use a Patent firm to look after them.

That's possible, but in the case of Altium I know that's not the case. They don't have any secret subsidiary or firm that handless patents for them. They simply have never really bothered with patents.

[Mechatrommer]

well thats the talk from who was inside but the linked patent doesnt provide detailed explanation.

Typically products list the parents they are based on so I'd you have access to their product you can look it up.

from what i have here, in the help menu i only can see some LGPL licenses and Altium "Copyright" there is no mentioning about patent number or whatsoever closer. so i guess the answer is still no, and somewhat confirmed by dave.