3 ms·

Uniloc may be a troll, but the issue of patent lawyers entirely--not just a little bit--writing their experts' "opinions" for them is a real one. Only the PTAB

Uniloc may be a troll, but the issue of patent lawyers entirely--not just a little bit--writing their experts' "opinions" for them is a real one. Only the PTAB allows this; federal courts take a very different view.

doctorwho 11y ago
I actually know Ric and some of the guys who worked at Uniloc. Back in the day, they were doing real development work and R&D on activation and licensing systems. The nature of the business may have changed after the Microsoft thing happened, but there's a lot more to that story than ever makes it into the headlines. All you hear now is the spin. Calling them trolls is sexier than doing any kind of fact checking I guess. Microsoft (and others) helped create the modern Uniloc by ripping off their IP, making it more profitable to enforce their patent than to use it to their advantage or license it. As long as the patent system exists in it's current flawed form, users have two choices... license the patented IP they use or roll the dice. People who own patents HAVE to enforce them or forfeit their rights, that's not really much of a choice.
- thinkcomp 11y ago
  I don't doubt that there's more to the story, and I'd be interested to hear it. However, it's not true that patent owners lose their rights without enforcement the way that trademark owners do. All you need to do as a patent owner to maintain rights is pay the renewal fees.
  - prutschman 11y ago
    That's not quite true: http://www.finnegan.com/resources/articles/articlesdetail.aspx?news=e6ca16c5-081f-4128-83d3-0699e2070381 http://www.finnegan.com/resources/articles/articlesdetail.as...
    - thinkcomp 11y ago
      The right to file a new claim at any time is what we're talking about, not the right to pursue a particular old claim after an extended delay.
Kliment 11y ago
What about the federal circuit? That court is entirely composed of patent lawyers.

doctorwho 11y ago

I actually know Ric and some of the guys who worked at Uniloc. Back in the day, they were doing real development work and R&D on activation and licensing systems. The nature of the business may have changed after the Microsoft thing happened, but there's a lot more to that story than ever makes it into the headlines. All you hear now is the spin. Calling them trolls is sexier than doing any kind of fact checking I guess. Microsoft (and others) helped create the modern Uniloc by ripping off their IP, making it more profitable to enforce their patent than to use it to their advantage or license it. As long as the patent system exists in it's current flawed form, users have two choices... license the patented IP they use or roll the dice. People who own patents HAVE to enforce them or forfeit their rights, that's not really much of a choice.

thinkcomp 11y ago
I don't doubt that there's more to the story, and I'd be interested to hear it. However, it's not true that patent owners lose their rights without enforcement the way that trademark owners do. All you need to do as a patent owner to maintain rights is pay the renewal fees.
- prutschman 11y ago
  That's not quite true: http://www.finnegan.com/resources/articles/articlesdetail.aspx?news=e6ca16c5-081f-4128-83d3-0699e2070381 http://www.finnegan.com/resources/articles/articlesdetail.as...
  - thinkcomp 11y ago
    The right to file a new claim at any time is what we're talking about, not the right to pursue a particular old claim after an extended delay.

Kliment 11y ago

What about the federal circuit? That court is entirely composed of patent lawyers.