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this is the solution for sure. Having been through the patent process myself, I can't imagine what sort of BS patents they were churning out for an engineer to

by make3 8y ago

this is the solution for sure. Having been through the patent process myself, I can't imagine what sort of BS patents they were churning out for an engineer to be able to have 2-3 a week. Making them conditional to review would have really improved on this

jpatokal 8y ago
That's 2-3 a week across the entire company (of unknown size), not a single engineer.
Majromax 8y ago
> I can't imagine what sort of BS patents they were churning out for an engineer to be able to have 2-3 a week. I interpret that part of the question as the program as a whole seeing 2-3 patents per week, spread over the entire engineering team. The employee in question produced 30 patents over two years -- still an astonishing rate, but evidently worthwhile because 'all of these inventions are used in our products'.
- user5994461 8y ago
  Not really astounding. That's 1 or 2 per month. It's a reasonable amount. It's far from what a patent mill or patent troll could generate.
lettergram 8y ago
> I can't imagine what sort of BS patents they were churning out for an engineer to be able to have 2-3 a week Valuable IP often has several implementations. When I go through the process of parenting something, usually 3 - 5 different ways to accomplish similar goals are patented. Building a patent moat if you will. Further, not all patents need to be highly valuable. Volume almost matters as much as quality, because you’re less likely to be sued if you have the ability to counter sue with 2000 patents. Each patent infringement needs to be defended which costs thousands a piece. When Samsung and Apple started going at it. It woke up most of the larger companies to that. BS or not, still value if they have an semblance of an idea
wishinghand 8y ago
From the post it seems like they were. They'd get from $300 to $5000 and the engineer in question seemed to be hitting the upper range most of the time.

by make3 8y ago

jpatokal 8y ago

That's 2-3 a week across the entire company (of unknown size), not a single engineer.

Majromax 8y ago

> I can't imagine what sort of BS patents they were churning out for an engineer to be able to have 2-3 a week. I interpret that part of the question as the program as a whole seeing 2-3 patents per week, spread over the entire engineering team. The employee in question produced 30 patents over two years -- still an astonishing rate, but evidently worthwhile because 'all of these inventions are used in our products'.

user5994461 8y ago
Not really astounding. That's 1 or 2 per month. It's a reasonable amount. It's far from what a patent mill or patent troll could generate.

lettergram 8y ago

> I can't imagine what sort of BS patents they were churning out for an engineer to be able to have 2-3 a week Valuable IP often has several implementations. When I go through the process of parenting something, usually 3 - 5 different ways to accomplish similar goals are patented. Building a patent moat if you will. Further, not all patents need to be highly valuable. Volume almost matters as much as quality, because you’re less likely to be sued if you have the ability to counter sue with 2000 patents. Each patent infringement needs to be defended which costs thousands a piece. When Samsung and Apple started going at it. It woke up most of the larger companies to that. BS or not, still value if they have an semblance of an idea

wishinghand 8y ago

From the post it seems like they were. They'd get from $300 to $5000 and the engineer in question seemed to be hitting the upper range most of the time.