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I do basically have a problem with patents altogether, but even in the current patent system, the way eInk is doing business is regressive and prevents innovati
by RIMR 6y ago
I do basically have a problem with patents altogether, but even in the current patent system, the way eInk is doing business is regressive and prevents innovation. They're far more concerned with maximizing their bottom line than actually pushing for adoption of the technology.
Even the founders of modern capitalism warned us of rent-seeking behavior like this that is actually counter to the goals of markets.
It's perfectly fair to condemn this, as well as the patent system that enables and encourages it.
- rswail 6y agoWhy is this "rent seeking"? eInk came up with an idea, reduced it to practice, patented that and now have a 20 year monopoly. What they choose to do with it is up to them. It's a property right that they own. It's specifically mandated as a monopoly power that they have been granted. After 20 years, anyone can make an eInk display. You can argue that 20 years is too long, or that the patent is invalid, or that they aren't exploiting their idea in the most community oriented way, but calling this "rent seeking" and "counter to the goals of markets" is flat out wrong. The "free market" is entirely about each individual making their own behavioral decisions, within the regulations of the market, to promote their own benefit. You might not like the way the idea of patents has been reduced to practice, but that doesn't make the idea of patents a bad one.