Plextor (Shinano Kenshi) taking action against PxTools

[Ian]

Is Shinano Kenshi Plextor's actual official, legal, name, or is it just a company that Plextor had create the PlexTools software?

It's Plextor's parent company.

[Alektron]

There are laws that protect the use of copyrighted work, but those laws have clauses for exemptions!

(1) the purpose and character of use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes,
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work,
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole, and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The answers as applied to this case:
1. Nonprofit use
2. Providing additional benefit to users worldwide
3. TBD
4. No profit loss, nor de-value of the original work

Plextor does not market a Linux software tool for their DVD drives, so this case is a clear cut case where the standards of the exemption are met.

http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectua ... mcguid.htm

http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectua ... pypol2.htm

[Wesociety]

Pxscan r0x0rs.
Plextor is making a really bad move here IMO...

[Halc]

There are laws that protect the use of copyrighted work, but those laws have clauses for exemptions!

You are quoting an United States law on a case that was brought forward by a Japanese company against European coders.

Other than that, it also isn't valid here, because no copyrighted work has been used by either coder. Apparently just standard interfaces which have been publicly documented.

Furthermore, reverse-engineering (if any has even happened!) is not illegal in European countries in question.

IMHO, as a layman, the case is non-existent and mounts to nothing more than legal muscle flexing. I hope it's settled amicably soon.

regards,
halc

[alexnoe]

Reverse engineering of interfaces without decompiling any software (which is what I have done) is explicitely allowed in the german copyright (which applies to me, as i am german, live in germany, and only offer my tools via a german webpage, namely the webspace my university gives to any of their students for free).

Eric hasn't done any reverse engineering, so whatever copyright applies to him, he cannot be held responsible for it

[dodecahedron]

Ah! but those webpages are in English not German!

[alexnoe]

I added the german translation because some people here cannot read enough english to understand this stuff. The language doesn't matter. The German law would apply to me even if I had written the page only in french...

[dodecahedron]

i was just kidding

how about this - maybe they'll drop the "charges" if you translate your webpage to Japanese ?

maybe this is what pissed them off:

Bitsetting for LG GSA-4120B/Plextor PX708/712A, Plextor C1/C2/PIE/PIF/Jitter/Beta/TA Scanner better than PlexTools

[alexnoe]

Maybe. I'll replace it with something more interesting somewhen.

[dodecahedron]

don't do it on my account. i think those words are true.

[alexnoe]

Well, you are not the first one saying that Plextor might dislike this. And, you know, if they dare to start a lawsuite, I want them to be out of torpedos from the beginning on.

[dodecahedron]

you know, it got me thinking, why aren't they upset at you for the Bitsetting for plextor drives? odd.

and since were speaking, let me take this opportunity to put in a good word. you've done great work. very commendable.
too bad i don't have a plextor burner to use it. and too bad it now looks like i won't have one either.
your (and Zeb's) work is a big incentive for me to buy a plextor drive (part of which is:i used to work with Linux and would like to do so again). Plextor's moronic behavior is a big incentive not to.
and i used to be a plextor fan. i own just 2 CDRW drives and both are plextor.

[alexnoe]

Because the bitsetting tool doesn't contain features they want to sell as XL

[Alektron]

You are quoting an United States law on a case that was brought forward by a Japanese company against European coders.

I agree now. I had not known that these guys were in Germany.

[alexnoe]

Enabled the PX-714 as possible scanning drive. Let's see how they like this

[dodecahedron]

Enabled the PX-714 as possible scanning drive. Let's see how they like this

good for you!

[dolphinius_rex]

Enabled the PX-714 as possible scanning drive. Let's see how they like this

PX-714? Do you mean the PX-740?

[Ian]

PX-714? Do you mean the PX-740?

No, there's a 714A available in some parts of Asia. It seems to be a PX-716A with only 4x -RW and +RW writing speeds. For whatever reason, its not on any of Plextor's websites. Here are some pics I found of it:

http://www.cdbest.net/2003/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=4197

Newegg China also has a bunch of info:

http://www.newegg.com.cn/Products/Produ ... ysNo=10365

[Ian]

Here's a good article on the whole PxScan/PxLinux thing

http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/05/0 ... 132&tid=69

[dolphinius_rex]

Looks like Plextor's bark is worse then their bite!

[alexnoe]

In case anyone has not yet noticed:

Plextor has not yet given up

[dodecahedron]

that sucks and renewes my resolution to not buy Plextor products.

[dolphinius_rex]

Good luck Alex!!!