An intellectual property dispute resulted in hundreds of cars being imprisoned in the Garden Street Garage in Hoboken New Jersey. This is a sign of things to come... ;)
From Wired:
The robot that parks cars at the Garden Street Garage in Hoboken, New Jersey, trapped hundreds of its wards last week for several days. But it wasn't the technology car owners had to curse, it was the terms of a software license.
The garage is owned by the city; the software, by Robotic Parking of Clearwater, Florida.
In the course of a contract dispute, the city of Hoboken had police escort the Robotic employees from the premises just a few days before the contract between both parties was set to expire. What the city didn't understand or perhaps concern itself with, is that they sent the company packing with its manuals and the intellectual property rights to the software that made the giant robotic parking structure work.
Giant Robot Imprisons Parked Cars
Giant Robot Imprisons Parked Cars
Trend Themes
1. Intellectual-property-disputes-in-robot-industry - The increasing number of intellectual property disputes in the robot industry creates an opportunity to develop more secure software with better licensing agreements.
2. Automated-parking-technology - The development of more reliable and user-friendly automated parking technology will be a disruptive innovation opportunity, especially in cities with limited parking spaces.
3. Robotics-industry-regulations - As the use of robotics becomes more prevalent, there will be a need for stricter regulations to govern the use of technology and prevent similar disputes from affecting public services.
Industry Implications
1. Real-estate-industry - The use of robotic parking structures in real estate developments can reduce parking space requirements and create more room for other amenities, offering a distinct advantage in the market.
2. Software-industry - There is an opportunity for the software industry to develop more user-friendly, secure, and easily licensed software for use in complex robotic systems and activities.
3. Law-enforcement-industry - Law enforcement agencies may require specialized training to recognize and prevent intellectual property disputes when they arise, especially in the growing presence of autonomous and robotic technologies in public spaces.