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So Apple doing bad things makes you mad at Apple. But the fact that other companies also play the same game, some less successfully and most importantly, with l

by mitchty 15y ago

So Apple doing bad things makes you mad at Apple. But the fact that other companies also play the same game, some less successfully and most importantly, with less press, doesn't impact your opinion of those companies? You should direct your anger at the source of the issue, software patents. Getting angry at companies doing what they need to in the current environment isn't very productive.

chc 15y ago
What they "need to do"? Why did Apple need to sue Samsung? Apple doesn't need the cash, Samsung's tablets aren't hurting iPad sales very much, and Samsung didn't show any inclination to pre-emptively sue Apple.
- mitchty 15y ago
  If you don't enforce your patents there isn't much point to having a patent. It has less to do with sales. The whole patent suit situation is systemic to the patent system. That and Apple tends to get into the news often it becomes "newsworthy" enough to report.
  - reddit_clone 15y ago
    > That and Apple tends to get into the news often it becomes "newsworthy" enough to report Oh? Not simply because they are one of the worst offenders? How may patent law suits is Google engaged in right now that is instigated by Google?
KirinDave 15y ago
> So Apple doing bad things makes you mad at Apple. But the fact that other companies also play the same game, some less successfully and most importantly, with less press, doesn't impact your opinion of those companies? Since when has "everyone else is doing it" been a good justification? I'm tired of this kind of lowest-common-denominator-thinking in business. I'm tired of this implicit assumption that the only rational purpose for companies is to maximize profit and minimize their competition. Maybe that's unfair, ridiculous, or childish. I don't really know. > You should direct your anger at the source of the issue, software patents. I do. I've also sunk software patents. While working at Microsoft I worked hard to find prior art for every patent proposed from any work I touched. > Getting angry at companies doing what they need to in the current environment isn't very productive. What's unproductive is maintaining the status quo. Apple is using patents to tactically bludgeon their strongest competition, and raising the cost of innovation in the process. This translates into less innovation, less competition, and higher prices for consumers in the mobile space.

by mitchty 15y ago

chc 15y ago

What they "need to do"? Why did Apple need to sue Samsung? Apple doesn't need the cash, Samsung's tablets aren't hurting iPad sales very much, and Samsung didn't show any inclination to pre-emptively sue Apple.

mitchty 15y ago
If you don't enforce your patents there isn't much point to having a patent. It has less to do with sales. The whole patent suit situation is systemic to the patent system. That and Apple tends to get into the news often it becomes "newsworthy" enough to report.
- reddit_clone 15y ago
  > That and Apple tends to get into the news often it becomes "newsworthy" enough to report Oh? Not simply because they are one of the worst offenders? How may patent law suits is Google engaged in right now that is instigated by Google?

KirinDave 15y ago

> So Apple doing bad things makes you mad at Apple. But the fact that other companies also play the same game, some less successfully and most importantly, with less press, doesn't impact your opinion of those companies? Since when has "everyone else is doing it" been a good justification? I'm tired of this kind of lowest-common-denominator-thinking in business. I'm tired of this implicit assumption that the only rational purpose for companies is to maximize profit and minimize their competition. Maybe that's unfair, ridiculous, or childish. I don't really know. > You should direct your anger at the source of the issue, software patents. I do. I've also sunk software patents. While working at Microsoft I worked hard to find prior art for every patent proposed from any work I touched. > Getting angry at companies doing what they need to in the current environment isn't very productive. What's unproductive is maintaining the status quo. Apple is using patents to tactically bludgeon their strongest competition, and raising the cost of innovation in the process. This translates into less innovation, less competition, and higher prices for consumers in the mobile space.