Hitachi sues maker of tiny drives

The battle over tiny hard drives has again landed in court.

Drive maker Hitachi Global Storage Technologies in late December said it had sued hard-drive company GS Magicstor of China, its Chinese parent company GS Magic and Riospring of Milpitas, Calif., for infringement of multiple Hitachi patents relating to hard-disk drives. Hitachi described Riospring as Magicstor's research affiliate.

GS Magicstor, which makes small hard drives, including 1-inch models, did not immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment. Hitachi 1-inch drives can be found in Apple's popular iPod Mini, and the company plans to offer a smaller version of its 1-inch "Microdrive" later this year.

Last year, drive makers Seagate Technology and Western Digital sued small-drive maker Cornice, alleging patent infringement. Cornice filed counterclaims against Seagate. Small hard drives store data in portable devices such as music players and mobile phones.

[grey_eminence]

Absurdity by Funny Companies

Many inventions in the 80's that were stolen from inventors and patented by the industry.

The industry is in a turf battle to protect a 50 years old technology.

Its obvious Hitachi and others are afraid of competition and the only way they know how to fight is through frivolous lawsuits, funny companies.

[walwebster]

Ever hear of IP?

Your logic is as tortured as your syntax, Grey. What you call a "turf war" for "50-year-old technology" from the 80s (!), most people would call theft of ideas, and patent infringement.

The microdrive is mid-90s technology, which by your math must make it even older ...

[kieranmullen]

Magic Hard Drives Are Garbage Anyway

From what many say online about their flash and microdrives.

KM