Traeger Patents the "Service" that Connects an Outdoor Grill to Wireless Devices

[pmillen]

This may be old news to some of you but I just saw a post on another forum.

Here's a news story about it.

[Ka Honu]

It appears to be an example of doing what's legally (but not necessarily morally or ethically) possible to gain an unfair "freebie" business/financial advantage.

I'm not smart enough to fully understand all of it but it sounds sort of like MLB patenting any new or existing outdoor activity where a ball or other object is propelled by making contact with a stick or tool of some sort and then suing the International Cricket Council.

Except for a bunch of people who drink warm beer on purpose, likely no one would care too much about cricket until they realized that the patent also affected golf, lacrosse, polo, tennis, etc.

I don't think I like Traeger's attitude very much but I'm increasingly fond of Shakespeare ("... let's kill all the lawyers").

Jus' sayin'...

[teesquare]

It is "patently" laughable - an un-enforceable. There are perhaps - thousands of MAK owners who were using the first wireless/WiFi controllers, as MAK invented that. Then, a former sponsor here, assisted Green Mountain in backward engineering the MAK system by buying a MAK, tearing into it and "knocking off" the wireless aspects of the controller. ( I have less than zero respect for how they went about that... ) Now - it is not uncommon as a feature on numerous brands.

So - the patent can be protested, and taken to court likely yielding a rescendence of said patent. And, hey - maybe even damages to the companies that might be inconvenienced if Treager is stupid enough to attempt to stop others from using their wireless controllers. This is assinine and at a level that should embarrass Treager to even pursue this falllacious and laughable path. I can't find words of enough disgust and frustration to verbalize  this well enough.

[Big Dawg]

It appears to be an example of doing what's legally (but not necessarily morally or ethically) possible to gain an unfair "freebie" business/financial advantage.

I'm not smart enough to fully understand all of it but it sounds sort of like MLB patenting any new or existing outdoor activity where a ball or other object is propelled by making contact with a stick or tool of some sort and then suing the International Cricket Council.

Except for a bunch of people who drink warm beer on purpose, likely no one would care too much about cricket until they realized that the patent also affected golf, lacrosse, polo, tennis, etc.

I don't think I like Traeger's attitude very much but I'm increasingly fond of Shakespeare ("... let's kill all the lawyers").

Jus' sayin'...

Quoted from, appropriately named, Dick the Butcher . . .





BD

[pmillen]

In Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Jack Cade thought that he could become king by disrupting the legal system.  His moronic henchman, Dick the Butcher, suggests that they need to kill all of the lawyers to accomplish that.

Shakespeare was elaborating on the Butcher’s unthinking viciousness by having him propose eliminating those who ensure that justice prevailed in society.  Shakespeare was actually complimenting the lawyers.

Dick the Butcher is not a character whose ideas are to be considered.

EDIT: Added italicized clarification.

[Ka Honu]

... those who ensure that justice prevailed in society. 

Might well have been true in Will's time. Not so much today.

Jus' sayin'...

[TMB]

Now this is why this  forum is sooooooo good!

In a thread you can go from grill manufacture's to Shakespeare in just a few  responses      

[KyNola]

You're right Tommy!  Who knew that Shakespeare owned a pellet grill?

[TMB]

You're right Tommy!  Who knew that Shakespeare owned a pellet grill?

LOL, well other than Tee since he is that "YOUNG" 

[teesquare]

You're right Tommy!  Who knew that Shakespeare owned a pellet grill?

LOL, well other than Tee since he is that "YOUNG" 

HEY!!! I resemble that remark......

[Big Dawg]

Now this is why this  forum is sooooooo good!

In a thread you can go from grill manufacture's to Shakespeare in just a few  responses    

And, in another second it could turn on a dime and change again . . .

How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
How many can you afford?





BD

[teesquare]

Now this is why this  forum is sooooooo good!

In a thread you can go from grill manufacture's to Shakespeare in just a few  responses    

And, in another second it could turn on a dime and change again . . .

How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
How many can you afford?

BD

I think that you are going to see several manufacturers jump on the opportunity gang up to head-slap Treager. It is not uncommon to see that sort of concerted action in other industries when one manufacturer acts stupid.

[MJSBBQ]

Best thread I have read in awhile!

[pmillen]

Has this suit been settled in some fashion?

If so, what was the outcome?

I see that most manufacturers are offering cloud controlled pits so I suspect that Traeger's patents were cancelled making the lawsuit moot.