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Tech Exhibitors raided at CeBIT

6 March 2008 16:46 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 4 comments

German Police and Customs Officials investigating claims of patent violations have seized dozens of boxes of tech gadgets and equipment at CeBIT, a tech fair held annually in Hanover. The alleged patent violations primarily concern devices with MP3, MP4 or other digital video playback, as well as several DVD players and blank media.

Police said that over 180 officials were involved in the searches on Wednesday, but did not reveal the targeted individuals or companies, just stating, "the background is the number that has been rising for years of criminal complaints by the holders of patent rights in the run-up to CeBIT."

Overall, 68 boxes of mobile phones, navigation devices and flat-screen devices along with advertising material were seized. Of all the exhibitors affected, only one failed to co-operate with the officers and had to be taken to a nearby police station. 24 were from mainland China, 12 from Taiwan, 9 from Germany, 3 from Hong Kong and one each from the Netherlands, Korea and Poland.

Permalink to this article | Topics: Gadgets MP3 & Digital Audio

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Discuss this article!
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 6 March 2008 21:20
Sounds like a photo-op to me! [ + quote]
7thsinger (Senior Member) 6 March 2008 21:45
*Quote:* Police said that over 180 officials were involved in the searches on Wednesday Sounds like a wonderful use of government manpower. rolls eyes *Quote:* Overall, 68 boxes of mobile phones, navigation devices and flat-screen devices along with advertising material were seized And eleven boxes of doughnuts. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6 March 2008 21:48
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 6 March 2008 23:14
Cops seizing "11 boxes of doughnuts". Who knew they liked doughnuts? If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck! "The flimsier the product,the higher the price" Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 7 March 2008 11:34
its sad when a company can say they've violated are patents attack with full force, and they attack. goverment has no pride if they were truly there to protect people from these falty devices. then why bust into a puplic exibit with body armour and fully automatic sub-machine guns. why not just stop by the violated both and point people someware else. a new goverment needs to be formed, just like when kings and queens got the boot. [ + quote]