Re: ImagePrint Question
Re: ImagePrint Question
- Subject: Re: ImagePrint Question
- From: "Steve Lawrence" <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 12:56:57 -0000
- Thread-topic: ImagePrint Question
Cris Daniels wrote:
> Steve, here it is from the rctech.com website:
>
> RCT and Epson Settle Patent Infringement Suit
Hi Cris, this press release simply states that Epson and RCT settled a
patent infringement suit brought by RCT against Epson. As part of that
Epson licensed RCT's BNM *patents*. It makes no statement that Epson are
using RCT's actual BNM in their products. I don't want to get into the
details, patent litigation being the minefield it is.
The point I was trying to make is that I know from personal experience,
including working with the "big three" on numerous devices, that
halftoning is very much seen as a strategic competency and as a result
they have spent many years developing halftoning technology which is
competitive. As have we. So I find it unlikely that they would be using
BNM across the board. Certainly on narrow format and perhaps fine art
mode on wide format, I expect they would be using their own error
diffusion.
> Besides this, I have it on authority from a few different developers.
Had they been told this by Epson driver engineers?
> Epson doesn't even assemble many of their printers, for them to
> license this code doesn't surprise me a bit. It works well, why
reinvent the wheel.
It's quite natural for OEMs not to manufacture all of their printers.
ODMs (original device/design manufacturers) are used for good business
reasons among them cost. Sure, as you say it's possible for one of the
OEMs to license halftoning technology in. They would be blinkered if a
"not invented here" attitude stopped them from evaluating, potentially
superior, third party technology. I think my point is that they have
been developing competitive halftoning technology for many years
(inventing their own wheels if you will allow me) and so the third party
technology will have to be significantly better for them to adopt the
risk of using it.
Ultimately I'm not trying to definitively argue against your original
statement. I can't, as only the HP and Epson engineers can answer that.
Rather, simply state that from my knowledge of inkjet halftoning (we've
been doing it for a long time) and the OEMs that there is an alternative
viewpoint.
Regards
Steve
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