4 ms·

On the one hand, I'm pretty sick of this nonsense. On the other hand, it might be in everyone's best interest if HTC succeeds here. If millions of fanboys are

by beloch 14y ago

On the one hand, I'm pretty sick of this nonsense. On the other hand, it might be in everyone's best interest if HTC succeeds here. If millions of fanboys are denied their shiny new iPhones and Apple, which is rather well connected in Washington, finally winds up losing money due to the patent system, maybe we'll finally seem some progress towards reform.

thaumaturgy 14y ago
For me, it's been fascinating to see what huge companies that are flush with more cash than ever before [1] will do with that cash during a prolonged recession. The most common argument for continuing to lower taxes on businesses is that it will stimulate the economy because the businesses will spend the money on their employees. It looks like what actually happens is that they spend the money waging legal wars against each-other. [1]: http://www.businessinsider.com/corporate-profits-just-hit-an-all-time-high-wages-just-hit-an-all-time-low-2012-6 http://www.businessinsider.com/corporate-profits-just-hit-an...
- davidw 14y ago
  I think you'd need more and better stats than a few large mobile phone companies in a turf war to really draw that conclusion.
  - hga 14y ago
    Indeed; I need to learn more about the Long Depression (1873-79 or longer, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Depression http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Depression and obviously right when POTS was being developed) but I know that this sort of problem was big in the Great Depression.
- ceejayoz 14y ago
  Legal wars tend to be expensive because they involve spending a lot of money on employees, though.
  - elemenohpee 14y ago
    On lawyers and other non-productive employees though, not in a way that would grow the economy. That's a huge broken window fallacy.
  - drcube 14y ago
    Well, law firms and court employees, at least.
pestaa 14y ago
So the patent system would more likely get reworked when a favored company loses money in the lawmakers' home so that they can put their hands on otherwise banned products? Interesting definition of 'HTC succeeding' here. I still hope you're right, though.
codeka 14y ago
I think the most likely outcome of HTC "succeeding" would just be that Apple and HTC agree to "cross-license" between each other. My guess is that Apple will enter cross-licensing deals with each of the major manufacturers, which is actually much worse because it would effectively block newcomers from entering the market and all you end up with is an oligarchy of incumbents.
angrydev 14y ago
> If millions of fanboys are denied their shiny new iPhones Quite condescending.
wklauss 14y ago
I really like how you sickness on the subject leads to the most passive-aggressive and condescending statement in just one sentence. I'd love to see the patent system changed but I think it's about time we stop thinking Apple customers are fanboys (and that there are "millions" of them) or that everyone else's are not. Regarding Washington, last time I check Apple was not even close to be the company that invest more money in lobbying. I don't know what is your base for "rather well connected" but if you have any evidence on this, it will be great to know.

by beloch 14y ago

thaumaturgy 14y ago

For me, it's been fascinating to see what huge companies that are flush with more cash than ever before [1] will do with that cash during a prolonged recession. The most common argument for continuing to lower taxes on businesses is that it will stimulate the economy because the businesses will spend the money on their employees. It looks like what actually happens is that they spend the money waging legal wars against each-other. [1]: http://www.businessinsider.com/corporate-profits-just-hit-an-all-time-high-wages-just-hit-an-all-time-low-2012-6 http://www.businessinsider.com/corporate-profits-just-hit-an...

davidw 14y ago
I think you'd need more and better stats than a few large mobile phone companies in a turf war to really draw that conclusion.
- hga 14y ago
  Indeed; I need to learn more about the Long Depression (1873-79 or longer, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Depression http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Depression and obviously right when POTS was being developed) but I know that this sort of problem was big in the Great Depression.
ceejayoz 14y ago
Legal wars tend to be expensive because they involve spending a lot of money on employees, though.
- elemenohpee 14y ago
  On lawyers and other non-productive employees though, not in a way that would grow the economy. That's a huge broken window fallacy.
- drcube 14y ago
  Well, law firms and court employees, at least.

pestaa 14y ago

So the patent system would more likely get reworked when a favored company loses money in the lawmakers' home so that they can put their hands on otherwise banned products? Interesting definition of 'HTC succeeding' here. I still hope you're right, though.

codeka 14y ago

I think the most likely outcome of HTC "succeeding" would just be that Apple and HTC agree to "cross-license" between each other. My guess is that Apple will enter cross-licensing deals with each of the major manufacturers, which is actually much worse because it would effectively block newcomers from entering the market and all you end up with is an oligarchy of incumbents.

angrydev 14y ago

> If millions of fanboys are denied their shiny new iPhones Quite condescending.

wklauss 14y ago

I really like how you sickness on the subject leads to the most passive-aggressive and condescending statement in just one sentence. I'd love to see the patent system changed but I think it's about time we stop thinking Apple customers are fanboys (and that there are "millions" of them) or that everyone else's are not. Regarding Washington, last time I check Apple was not even close to be the company that invest more money in lobbying. I don't know what is your base for "rather well connected" but if you have any evidence on this, it will be great to know.