 Dozens of exhibitors at Europe's largest gadget confab were in for a surprise
this week: Suspecting patent violations, German authorities raided 51 booths,
carting off cell phones, navigation devices, and other gear that allegedly
infringe on patents.
According to an
Associated Press, more than 180 police and customs officials
took part in the bust, which affected 51 exhibitors at CeBit in Hannover,
Germany. Of the accused, 24 were from China, 15 were from Taiwan or Hong Kong,
nine were from Germany, and the others came from Poland, the Netherlands, and
Korea.
The police didn't name which people or companies were targeted, but they did
say the alleged patent violations deal with devices that have MP3, MP4, or
digital video broadcast functions; DVD players; and blank CDs and DVDs.
They
managed to fill 68 boxes with gadgets, documents, and advertising material and
took down the identities of nine people, most of whom were reportedly
cooperative.
The raid was a response to a rising number of "criminal complaints by the
holders of patent rights in the run-up to CeBit," and the patent holders had
warned the accused companies in "good time" about their lack of licenses, police
said, according to the AP.
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