5 ms·
It's essentially a modern day protection racket created out of our poor patent system. Myhrvold and company patent a bunch of vauge "forward looking" ideas. A
by TomOfTTB 16y ago
It's essentially a modern day protection racket created out of our poor patent system. Myhrvold and company patent a bunch of vauge "forward looking" ideas. Actual product people then create an actual product and have to pay them because one of their vague ideas could conflict.
The only reason it works is because Myhrvold made a bunch of Microsoft money (he never created a product there either) so everyone fears going against him in a lawsuit.
- nickpinkston 16y agoI'd argue that the patent system itself is a "protection racket" - the government is just outsourcing the enforcement to IV...
- Pooter 16y agoThe patent (and copyright) system is constitutionally mandated, specifically to promote "Science and useful Arts," by giving people temporary exclusivity on what they create. Since this kind of activity doesn't appear to actually promote science or the useful arts, I argue that the fact that our allows this kind of behavior using our patent system is unconstitutional.