If you thought the name of the recently introduced Google mobile phone, the Nexus One sounded familiar, you’re not alone. The estate of the late sci-fi author Philip K. Dick says that the Internet giant lifted the name from the author’s classic novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” (better known as the movie “Blade Runner.”)
In the novel, the Nexus One refers to the model of a rogue android.
The estate of the late author has sued Google, claiming infringement.
“Google takes first and then deals with the fallout later,” Isa Dick Hackett, Dick’s daughter, told Wired.com.
The family sent a letter to Google earlier this week, demanding the company cease using the Nexus name and requesting the company turn over relevant documents within 10 days.
Google has not yet responded to the letter.
The side plot of DADoES/Bladerunner revolved around the fact that the Nexus-6 couldn’t be upgraded after it reached the end of it’s Warranty Period.
No Google Android device to date has been able to handle software upgrades; you can’t upgrade an Android OS 1.5 device to use Android 2.0.
Maybe Google are telling us that the Nexus One will only last the length of the Warranty Period, and then stop working.
Title is wrong and is misleading. Please correct it to something like “Philip K. Dick estate threatens to sue Google”.
A threatening letter (even if sent by lawyers) demanding anything is not the same as a lawsuit.
This dog is barking, not biting (yet at least).
When I heard the name of the phone something was whirring in my head…now I know why.