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These are the same people. Nathan Myhrvold is who you're thinking of -- he was the former CTO of Microsoft, and among other things, now runs an outfit called In
by apendleton 6y ago
These are the same people. Nathan Myhrvold is who you're thinking of -- he was the former CTO of Microsoft, and among other things, now runs an outfit called Intellectual Ventures, who did both that work several years ago and is responsible for this paper (I wasn't sure at first, but there are references to Intellectual Ventures Labs further down into the paper). IV is either a research institution of a patent troll or both, depending on your perspective, but either way, they don't generally commercialize the ideas they come up with, they just license them.
- wussboy 6y agoSo this invention which could remove a significant portion of human suffering is being squatted on? And because it is patented no one else can remove this suffering either?
- 95014_refugee 6y agoNot necessarily, or yet, but it would certainly fit IV's MO if it were.
- silexia 6y agoWhat a nightmare. The patent system is enormously harmful to the world and should be done away with.
- mensetmanusman 6y agoDepends on whether you think people would work nights and weekends to get an idea out the door if someone with more money can immediately copy and profit. History says no, but maybe there is a different system.
- rightbyte 6y agoHow many sucessful patents are from freestanding inventors nowadays actually? The main in-action of patent I have seen is patents being hoarded in big corporations. If the engineers work nights and weekends at those it is their own fault.
- mensetmanusman 6y agoThey are rewarded with salaries that have never before existed outside of law/business/rent seeking (kings/land owners/etc.), the main power brokers of wealth in most of human history.
- jacquesm 6y agoThey're called Intellectual Vultures in some circles...
- jtwaleson 6y agoMaybe this could be considered prior art: a satirical Dutch commercial from 2007 (or earlier) about the "Star Wars Mosquito Defence System" https://youtu.be/TGkPMZxWPpA https://youtu.be/TGkPMZxWPpA
- toomuchtodo 6y agoIntellectual Ventures did the initial work on this project, and while commercialization languished for quite some time, an org somewhere in the Microsoft alum web ("Global Good", supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) is moving forward with commodification of the technology [1]. The patent doesn't expire until 2032 [2], but I've always had the thought that an open source version would not easily be constrained by patent laws (especially if the open devices were deployed in developing countries, where needed most) (IANAL). [1] https://photonicsentry.com/ https://photonicsentry.com/ [2] https://patents.google.com/patent/US8705017 https://patents.google.com/patent/US8705017
- Monroe13 6y ago> IV is either a research institution or a patent troll or both, depending on your perspective, but either way, they don't generally commercialize the ideas they come up with, they just license them. That’s not exactly accurate. IV creates spin-out companies that commercialize particular inventions created by IV inventors. Photonic Sentry is the commercialization vehicle for this mosquito zapper that was invented by IV inventors. Other examples are Kymeta, Terrapower and Echodyne. IV does not typically commercialize inventions (patents) that it purchases — but the patent purchasing piece of the business is distinct from the invent and commercialize piece.