3 ms·

It's actually the opposite. These patents trolls are typically very small operations suing massive corporations. They aren't rich guys screwing the little guy.

It's actually the opposite. These patents trolls are typically very small operations suing massive corporations. They aren't rich guys screwing the little guy. It's the little guy screwing whoever he can. These little guys have too much access to the legal system. That's why it's hard to clamp down on. Nobody wants to make it so only big guys can have access to the legal system.

HillaryBriss 10y ago
With the added wrinkle in this particular case that the patent troll is also suing a bunch of little guys who decided to use Google Play Store.
- rhino369 10y ago
  Sounds like they are suing whoever they can including Minecraft which isn't a small fish. There is a form of patent trolling that only goes after small guys. But they'd avoid actually litigating the patent and just push a settlement. They'd never take it to trial because little guys can't pay out enough to justify the cost of a patent trial. That form is basically extortion. They ask for a small sum of money to just go away.
  - HillaryBriss 10y ago
    > They ask for a small sum of money to just go away. Outrageous. Surprised there isn't a more meaningful response from Google.
tanker 10y ago
You identified a separate problem from the parent post rather than refuting it. #1: Big corporations can push small guys out of business by tying up their products in patent disputes. #2: Patent trolls can bleed corporations big and small while producing nothing of value. These problems are specific to the patent industry. Are there similar problems in other areas of the law? If so, we may be able to identify and try to solve the larger problem. If not, we just need to focus on patent reform which is an easier problem.
- masklinn 10y ago
  #1 is a problem in any area of the law with complex and/or lengthy litigation, the financial ability to run out the clock and outlast (possibly literally) and/or out-lawyer the other party is an effective and powerful one throughout.
spriggan3 10y ago
> They aren't rich guys screwing the little guy. It's the little guy screwing whoever he can. They are rich enough to sue. They are not "the little guy", they are often well funded businesses that buy patents wholesale for the sole purpose of suing other businesses.
- morganvachon 10y ago
  Indeed, many of these patent troll houses have big time investors backing them, vultures hoping to cash in on the remnants of the small-to-mid companies they sue into oblivion. At my last job I fielded a call from the "scanner patent" guys, luckily I knew what they were up to and I declined to answer any questions. They framed the call as being from Staples for a survey about the office equipment we may have bought from them, i.e. they flat out lied. Since I was in charge of all office and IT equipment purchase decisions, I knew we'd never bought a thing from Staples, and when they started specifically asking about multifunction printers with scanners, I just said "troll someone else" and hung up.
maxxxxx 10y ago
They have enough money to keep a lawsuit going. They are certainly not "little guys" in the same sense a regular worker is.

HillaryBriss 10y ago

With the added wrinkle in this particular case that the patent troll is also suing a bunch of little guys who decided to use Google Play Store.

rhino369 10y ago
Sounds like they are suing whoever they can including Minecraft which isn't a small fish. There is a form of patent trolling that only goes after small guys. But they'd avoid actually litigating the patent and just push a settlement. They'd never take it to trial because little guys can't pay out enough to justify the cost of a patent trial. That form is basically extortion. They ask for a small sum of money to just go away.
- HillaryBriss 10y ago
  > They ask for a small sum of money to just go away. Outrageous. Surprised there isn't a more meaningful response from Google.

tanker 10y ago

You identified a separate problem from the parent post rather than refuting it. #1: Big corporations can push small guys out of business by tying up their products in patent disputes. #2: Patent trolls can bleed corporations big and small while producing nothing of value. These problems are specific to the patent industry. Are there similar problems in other areas of the law? If so, we may be able to identify and try to solve the larger problem. If not, we just need to focus on patent reform which is an easier problem.

masklinn 10y ago
#1 is a problem in any area of the law with complex and/or lengthy litigation, the financial ability to run out the clock and outlast (possibly literally) and/or out-lawyer the other party is an effective and powerful one throughout.

spriggan3 10y ago

> They aren't rich guys screwing the little guy. It's the little guy screwing whoever he can. They are rich enough to sue. They are not "the little guy", they are often well funded businesses that buy patents wholesale for the sole purpose of suing other businesses.

morganvachon 10y ago
Indeed, many of these patent troll houses have big time investors backing them, vultures hoping to cash in on the remnants of the small-to-mid companies they sue into oblivion. At my last job I fielded a call from the "scanner patent" guys, luckily I knew what they were up to and I declined to answer any questions. They framed the call as being from Staples for a survey about the office equipment we may have bought from them, i.e. they flat out lied. Since I was in charge of all office and IT equipment purchase decisions, I knew we'd never bought a thing from Staples, and when they started specifically asking about multifunction printers with scanners, I just said "troll someone else" and hung up.

maxxxxx 10y ago

They have enough money to keep a lawsuit going. They are certainly not "little guys" in the same sense a regular worker is.