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I wonder if companies ever put in patents just to throw competitors off the scent or give them dumb ideas to follow, knowing they’re not viable. Like how the US
by jonplackett 7y ago
I wonder if companies ever put in patents just to throw competitors off the scent or give them dumb ideas to follow, knowing they’re not viable. Like how the USA leaked Space Shuttle plans to the USSR that wouldn’t fly.
- realharo 7y agoMore likely it's a blanket policy of "patent everything even remotely patentable, just in case".
- rescripting 7y agoSome companies (not sure about Apple) offer patent incentives to employees. Our CTO once bragged about having 150 patents. An engineer in my org decided to show him up and had 150 filed within 2 years. I think the incentives probably doubled his base salary and I guarantee none of the patents are useful or will be used.
- dehrmann 7y agoThe way I've described it, and someone working in tech patents confirmed, is that you patent to the point that it's a Mexican standoff between all the players.
- jliptzin 7y agoI know of at least one famous CEO who told me he goes to tech conferences as a guest speaker/panelist and gives out blatantly false information just to throw competitors in the wrong direction.