[linuxkerneldev]

> Kudos to Trekstor to stand up for a fight, and thanks for the link.

I fear you may have misinterpreted that result. Trekstor doesn't make panels. They buy panels from OED Tech based in Shenzhen. OED Tech is actually a company started by former E Ink engineers who left Boston and moved to China. They were sued by E Ink because those guys just stole the chemical formulas and production processes. OED Tech even approached us (we buy E Ink panels) and promised to undercut their price.

Competition is good but I kind of prefer genuine competition. I had high hopes for interferometric but Qualcomm shut that down.

[shiven]

Competition is good but I kind of prefer genuine competition.

Except in the industries and product areas where IP is being used for land-grabs, rent-collection, little-to-none innovation and roadblocking any and all competition. In those cases (as E-Ink), I am glad there are still places in this world where people can continue to push the envelope and innovate to create better products for our species. IP be damned.

[userbinator]

There are apparently already a bunch of small companies in China making EPDs (electrophoretic display, the "generic name" and associated components; E-Ink is just one company/trademark) so the end of the monopoly may be near, and prices may drop enough to make them as commonly available as LCDs.

[xeemzorz]

I wouldn't count on it. There are still many manufacturing difficulties to overcome before making large format electrophoretics cheaper.

[wuschel]

Interesting. Could you perhaps elaborate further, or point towards any sources re manufacturering difficulties?