3 ms·
I have a feeling this will turn a lot more innovators into patent lawyers. This is probably the first time in my career that I want to start writing (as in mor
by lucidquiet 14y ago
I have a feeling this will turn a lot more innovators into patent lawyers. This is probably the first time in my career that I want to start writing (as in more than once) my congressman. Not to mention that if Apple, Google, and Amazon are acting out of fear what hope does the little guy have?
- soup10 14y agoI think "acting out of fear" is hyperbole for making a "logical business decision". It's not like these guys are strangers to the patent business (remember 1-Click?). One thing to remember about the little guy is, he doesn't have any money, so he's not worth going after. My impression is that the scenario where 'big tech company/patent troll' sues 'unprofitable start-up' out of existence is pretty rare.
- lucidquiet 14y agoI tend to agree with the "logical business decision", but what this means (I'm just speculating really), is that when a business reaches profitability, or taps a growth market, then the potential profit vs legal costs will turn on. Which means that IV and Big Name companies can strong arm the up-start company to either join their patent trolling or turn over some percentage. For what amounts to flimsy and obvious software ideas/patents.
- luriel 14y ago> One thing to remember about the little guy is, he doesn't have any money, so he's not worth going after. But part of the point of being a little guy is that you have a chance to not always be a little guy, but with the patent cartel/racket around it becomes much harder to grow beyond being a little guy.