3 ms·
Please understand that patents only serve the big companies, not the small developer. Companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft just cross-license in case ther
by mpol 5y ago
Please understand that patents only serve the big companies, not the small developer. Companies like Apple, Google and Microsoft just cross-license in case there is a problem and they gain from that.
As a small developer who invented something and has patented that invention. What do you do when Apple uses that patent without informing you or paying you. Do you sue them? That will take 10 years and lots of money and will surely wear you out. The only way a small developer gets paid for a patent is by selling it to a patent troll. I guess this is how the system works.
By the way, I don't agree with software patents, and I think 20 years is too long for a patent in this day and age.
- Johnyma22 5y ago"The only way a small developer gets paid for a patent is by selling it to a patent troll." There is another way. You can sell the company that owns the patent to a larger company (that isn't a troll). M&A's often assign a high value to IP...
- dejw 5y agoSad, but almost all of us would do the same.
- new299 5y agoI think software patents are a bad idea. But in many industries patents benefit the small developer because they help you gain investment. If an investor sees you have reasonable patent coverage they’re more likely to give you money. Eventually if Apple sues you an investor might give you more money to fight the patent battle (if there’s a reasonable chance of a payout).