In addition to the childish D-Star programmers war (Scott, KI4LKF's dextra verses Robin, AA4RC's dplus ) .. Now it appears there are two hardware guys fighting.
Satoshi JK1ZRW's node adapter verses Fred, PA4YBR's Dutch Star node adaptor. I read something about how Satoshi was notified that his adaptor was infringing on Icom's UT118 module (a case of whistle blowing?).
I had high hopes for Satoshi 's less popular AMBE DV adaptor. This was a full blown adapter to turn an analog radio in to a D-STAR radio and does include provisions to encode/decode AMBE, unlike his node adaptor. What I was really envisioning was a SIP to analog radio adaptor.
Due to this childishness Satoshi is applying to patent his work and is no longer offering free firmware support as they may be pre-programmed/locked.. Similarly Robin programs appear to be coded to collide with Scott's.
Icom recently contacted the ARRL about the use of the word ""D-Star," in reference to some homebrew projects. Icom requested printed corrections saying that that those aren't D-STAR, but rather are D-STAR compatible.
The JARL says that in Japan domestically it is JARL's registered trademark, but outside it's ICOM's. The JARL allows radio amateurs to use this term in their homebrew projects or in papers. So any trademark restrictions outside Japan, are issues with ICOM.
Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) and http://www.trademarkia.com/dstar-76535996.html
Word Mark D-STAR
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Communication equipment namely repeaters and transceivers for amateur radio communications. FIRST USE: 20030501. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20030501
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 76535996
Filing Date July 30, 2003
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition May 4, 2004
Registration Number 2866400
Registration Date July 27, 2004
Owner (REGISTRANT) ICOM INCORPORATED CORPORATION JAPAN 1-6-19, Kamikurazukuri, Hirano-ku Osaka-shi, Osaka JAPAN
Attorney of Record William L. Androlia
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
Specifically, this seems in reference to Icom's D-Star logo
All I know is none of this is worth fighting over.