RE: [AV Media Matters] Newbie to list question - tape baking, is it

[Jim Lindner <jim@vidipax.com>]

Actually many patents are made as improvements to existing technology -
so Ampex's claim is quite easy to defend - at least in that area. This
type of patent is generally known as an application patent and relates
to how a specific process or product is used to solve a new or unique
problem or create a new process or product. For example in the archival
field the Kodak "Molecular Sieve" patent relates to putting a material
that has been used in industrial processes for MANY years - but using it
in a new way - and that way is to put it into cans of film - and then to
have found a way to reduce the effects of vinegar syndrome. So in this
case you have an existing product being used with another existing
product in a unique way.  There are MANY patents of this type. A weaker
area may be prior art - i.e. did someone invent it earlier or was the
process used earlier and not patented and therefore "public". This is
not for speculation - it has to be proved in great detail.  Challenging
a patent is an expensive activity - so the patent is very much real -
and do not laugh too hard. It can be very serious business.

Saying that the Ampex patent was only done as a defense to poor product
is a bit on the unfair side - binder degeneration is a problem that has
caused problems for virtually all vendors at one time or another. And as
far as the patent it concerned - it is irrelevant.  Again - almost all
patents improve existing products or processes. Actually when you look
at the patent you will see the other citations.  If you have never gone
though the process of researching and reading a patent or two - I
strongly recommend it - quite educational.

The patent can be read on line using the IBM Patent Server - One of my
personal favorites on the web.

http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?pn=US05236790__

will give you what you need to know about it. If you are having fun with
it - I suggest exploring patents in a few other ways - all very convient
on the IBM patent server.  For fun - find an object that has a patent
number on it and look it up. You may find it quite different then what
you think it will be based on the object that you got if from.  Another
is to follow up references both to the patent of interest as well as new
patents that refer to the subject patent. Also follow a specific
inventors patent - I find that quite interesting. Some inventors have
MANY patents in widely different areas - some in very similar areas.  In
any event it is really quite interesting.

Finally - one of the techniques we use at VidiPax is proprietary - but
uses a material called pellon which is a spun polyester material that
removes contamination when applied properly.  There are actually many
different ways to clean tapes - some work better then others - some only
work in specific cases - there are many different options - one only
needs to be.......
inventive!!

jim

Jim Lindner - President
VidiPax - The Magnetic Media and Information Migration Full Services
Company
Telephone 212-563-1999
www.vidipax.com
Moderator of A/V Media Matters@topica.com