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Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:35 pm
by The_G
21 years after ReBirth launched. Here's why, and what it could mean for the music software industry:
While Roland has previously been happy to let products such as ReBirth exist, the company has been more committed to protecting its intellectual property in recent years. As well as shutting down ReBirth, it recently requested the removal of a not-for-profit browser version of the TR-909 drum machine.

The reason for this is probably because Roland has recently reissued the 303 and 909 (as well as other classic synths), and unauthorized versions of its classic synths damage its intellectual property and profits.
Pretty lame. LINK.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:38 pm
by Críoch
They've fuck all to be doing..

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:42 pm
by Lost to the Void
Roland are just so blah now.
They reel about drunkenly from one bad decision to the next.
The trump of the synth world.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 3:15 am
by P0607r0n
And they do it not so long ago after death of the creator of those roland boxes, Mr K. :/
Hopefully they won't touch projects like xoxbox, or m1am1, that would be just sad, as I don't consider their reissue an actual alternative. It seems like someone in Roland wants to ruin that poor company on purpose. I won't be surprised if In couple years they will start to make doubtful quality vsts. :?

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 6:41 am
by dubdub
It's weird considering how many xox clones there are. I'm guessing they are going to launch an Ipad app, seem par on guess if you look at what Roland's been doing.

If someone fought this instead of complying, I doubt Roland would win though. As long as you remove the Roland logos etc., there's no way they still have control over almost 40 year old hardware designs.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:22 am
by totalcult
I wonder what this means for AudioRealism, D16 and similar companies who have "flagship" emulations? Is it because of this whole Roland Cloud thing??

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:43 am
by Southpaw
totalcult wrote:I wonder what this means for AudioRealism, D16 and similar companies who have "flagship" emulations? Is it because of this whole Roland Cloud thing??
Yeah you'd think it would be strange to single out an old app like Rebirth and nothing else. Weird man, even if it is to do with the cloud thing or something up and coming, who's gonna use that thing? F-cked if I'm 'hiring' software :lol:

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 9:51 am
by rsntr
dubdub wrote: If someone fought this instead of complying, I doubt Roland would win though.
I agree. As far as I can see they don't use any of the Roland trademark anywhere and the design patent for those machines - assuming Roland registered them in the first place - would have expired. Did Propellerheads exploit Roland's trademark goodwill? Maybe yes, probably not.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:03 am
by Southpaw
rsntr wrote:
dubdub wrote: If someone fought this instead of complying, I doubt Roland would win though.
I agree. As far as I can see they don't use any of the Roland trademark anywhere and the design patent for those machines - assuming Roland registered them in the first place - would have expired. Did Propellerheads exploit Roland's trademark goodwill? Maybe yes, probably not.
They endorsed it originally from what I have read since seeing this thread, my guess is that it's something to do with an upcoming product like someone said. Since it's virtual, it can only be reference & the name or something. Baffling, it would make you wonder about other plugins but since almost all of them don't use the actual name and obviously don't contain hardware circuitry or whatever, I can't see any issue. Like TAL UNO for instance, clearly it's an emulation of the JUNO but Roland have already come out with products like the Boutique series so if there was anything in there to complain about, it would have already happened maybe? Makes sense that it has something to do with this cloud thing, I dunno.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:07 am
by rktic
This could also be an action tied to that Venture capital company claiming ownership of Propellerhead Software.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:16 am
by rsntr
Southpaw wrote:
rsntr wrote:
dubdub wrote: If someone fought this instead of complying, I doubt Roland would win though.
I agree. As far as I can see they don't use any of the Roland trademark anywhere and the design patent for those machines - assuming Roland registered them in the first place - would have expired. Did Propellerheads exploit Roland's trademark goodwill? Maybe yes, probably not.
Since it's virtual, it can only be reference & the name or something. Baffling, it would make you wonder about other plugins but since almost all of them don't use the actual name and obviously don't contain hardware circuitry or whatever, I can't see any issue.
That's meant with the terms design patent and trademark goodwill.

A design patent does not refer to the technical invention (the circuitry) but instead to the ornamental design for an object. You can clearly see that Rebirth copies the appearence of Roland's machines. However, such a design patent would've expired.

The trademark goodwill protects the consumers' recognition of a brand even if it's not necessarily a trademark infringement per se. I.e., people buy Rebirth because they think it's actually from Roland. Whether that is or was actually the case is debatable and to predict a potential outcome of hypothetic litigation is mere speculation.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:29 am
by Críoch
Next up.. HOPEFULLY - Roland will do a Cease & Desist on those shitty Roland x0x cushions.

They're not cool.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:21 am
by Hades
Críoch wrote:Next up.. HOPEFULLY - Roland will do a Cease & Desist on those shitty Roland x0x cushions.

They're not cool.
damn, I had to google that shit.
I think they'd go remarkably well with a (opposite of +) beach towel !!

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:39 am
by Críoch
Aye.

Theres also a dumb ass Swimsuit for the 'Ladiez' - It'll probably be linked here at some point, but its just as fucking bad.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 11:42 am
by Alume
We need mass education on some proper b and let b.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 1:11 pm
by Hades
Críoch wrote:Aye.

Theres also a dumb ass Swimsuit for the 'Ladiez' - It'll probably be linked here at some point, but its just as fucking bad.

Image

You'll have to forgive me but I actually quite like this. (and I had seen this one before)
Makes me want to touch those knobs even more... :mrgreen:

Alume wrote:We need mass education on some proper b and let b.
Ah come on now. It's not like we're talking about executing these people now, are we ?
We have a right to be annoyed by the wrong type of merchandising (or any type of merchandising at all).

Imagine you're working in the tourist department of Auschwitz,
and you gotta think of ways to attract more tourists...
What are their options ?
They have the highest tower of 2nd hand shoes on the planet, but yeah, other stuff ?
Holding a giant pizza festival because they can at least bake 5000 pizza's at the same time ?

:lol:

(not my jokes btw, just watched some lovely stand up comedy lately)

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 1:15 pm
by Hades
damn man, there's quite a lot of options...

this one is damn right horrible...
I mean, she'll do fine all right, but that suit... :shock:

Image

but who wants a swim suit anyway ?
are we 1959 or something ?
Is this IS country ?

bikini's or nothing, ffs ! :D

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:56 pm
by Mattias
Funny how Roland been so massively behind and never understood which major advantage they had for a long time with their machines. The market was screaming for re-launches or miniature version of them. They never understood it, though it was right there in-front their eyes. And NOW, when they finally get it they do this? Booo

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:47 pm
by Opnå
Mattias wrote:Funny how Roland been so massively behind and never understood which major advantage they had for a long time with their machines. The market was screaming for re-launches or miniature version of them. They never understood it, though it was right there in-front their eyes. And NOW, when they finally get it they do this? Booo
I think people often forget that these companies kinda did some of these great stuff almost by mistake or at least due to limitations. While some of the individual people who worked at places like Roland and Korg were no doubt genius, the companies as a whole never seemed particularly special .

As soon as possible they were making crap digital kit that was merely cashing in on their previous success. Oh we'll call this a Juno and still get £800 for it, even though it's massively average and basically an OK soft synth with it's own controller.

I'd rather give my money to a smaller private manufacturer any day.

Re: Roland claims IP infringement, shuts down ReBirth

Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2017 9:06 pm
by Alume
Hades wrote:
Alume wrote:We need mass education on some proper b and let b.
Ah come on now. It's not like we're talking about executing these people now, are we ?
We have a right to be annoyed by the wrong type of merchandising (or any type of merchandising at all).

Imagine you're working in the tourist department of Auschwitz,
and you gotta think of ways to attract more tourists...
What are their options ?
They have the highest tower of 2nd hand shoes on the planet, but yeah, other stuff ?
Holding a giant pizza festival because they can at least bake 5000 pizza's at the same time ?

:lol:

(not my jokes btw, just watched some lovely stand up comedy lately)
Nah man i was talking about the rolands, that had years to get their shit together tegarsing the xox's. Now all some creative people have been working hard to fill rolands shortcomigs and they break em down?

I dont know if subsekt is ready for racial jokes that are supposed to be sarcastic. Eitherway, booo roland