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Please don't. The last thing we need is someone to get the idea that we need more dedicated non-profits to fight tasteless legal battles. Supporting their busi

Please don't. The last thing we need is someone to get the idea that we need more dedicated non-profits to fight tasteless legal battles. Supporting their business is a better option in the long-run. Hopefully, their success will signal to other companies; going out of your way to do the right thing is a good business strategy.

mc32 11y ago
My thought was that a united front would pose a disincentive for trolls to think of launching patent attacks against weaker players who don't have the resources a NEgg has.
- EvanPlaice 11y ago
  In principle, I wholeheartedly agree. In a perfect world that would be a great solition. In reality, non-profit groups will inevitably grow in scope relative to the ambition of its leaders and/or accessibility to easily acquired sources of funding. At some point the organization will grow the the size where it'll have to seek funding via membership dues and/or direct sponsorship. The 'we stand up for the little guy' will become a marketing facade to justify the organization's existence. Meanwhile, membership and the protection it provides will be carefully meted out and sold to the highest bidder. NewEgg is doing something much more beneficial overall. Instead of building alliances and hedging resources for an impenetrable defense. They're saving all that wasted effort by going on the attack. They accepted a much greater degree of risk at the start but legal policy is relativistic. The more they win, the more they will win because they can use the outcomes of prior casses to support their arguments. In a way, their success is literally writing the future law of patent litigation and filling in all the gaps that the trolls have been aggressively exploiting for years.
- psykovsky 11y ago
  isn't EFF already fighting that front?
gknoy 11y ago
I don't think it would be a non-profit. Rather it would be, "Here, Newegg, take this donation to your legal fund, without me having to waste your time shipping me low-margin products!"

mc32 11y ago

My thought was that a united front would pose a disincentive for trolls to think of launching patent attacks against weaker players who don't have the resources a NEgg has.

EvanPlaice 11y ago
In principle, I wholeheartedly agree. In a perfect world that would be a great solition. In reality, non-profit groups will inevitably grow in scope relative to the ambition of its leaders and/or accessibility to easily acquired sources of funding. At some point the organization will grow the the size where it'll have to seek funding via membership dues and/or direct sponsorship. The 'we stand up for the little guy' will become a marketing facade to justify the organization's existence. Meanwhile, membership and the protection it provides will be carefully meted out and sold to the highest bidder. NewEgg is doing something much more beneficial overall. Instead of building alliances and hedging resources for an impenetrable defense. They're saving all that wasted effort by going on the attack. They accepted a much greater degree of risk at the start but legal policy is relativistic. The more they win, the more they will win because they can use the outcomes of prior casses to support their arguments. In a way, their success is literally writing the future law of patent litigation and filling in all the gaps that the trolls have been aggressively exploiting for years.
psykovsky 11y ago
isn't EFF already fighting that front?

gknoy 11y ago

I don't think it would be a non-profit. Rather it would be, "Here, Newegg, take this donation to your legal fund, without me having to waste your time shipping me low-margin products!"