4 ms·
Software patents often harm the really big companies too, due to the existence of patent trolling companies which exist for no other reason than to horde patent
by DavidSJ 16y ago
Software patents often harm the really big companies too, due to the existence of patent trolling companies which exist for no other reason than to horde patents and sue big companies.
- binspace 16y agoAs an engineer, I'm offended by the fact that some lawyer has control over the types product I can design. We keep on hearing how patents harm innovation, now hopefully something is done about it.
- WildUtah 16y agoActually this helps big companies. They can afford to pay off the trolls and continue but bogus patents can kill off their smaller competitors who don't have money for lawsuits. That's why Microsoft, for example, pays off billions in patent lawsuit winnings and then hires expansive lobbyists to keep them coming. It's peanuts to big companies but the freedom from upstart competition they get is priceless.
- dedward 16y agoIf a patent is transferrable in some form, and has some value, then there will be a market for it - one can hardly fault someone for exploiting this to commercial advantage. The patent system itself is broken..... let's fix that...