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Do you really think it is because they supposedly don't understand technology? I've read that they are simply particularly "sympathetic" to patents over there,
by andreasvc 14y ago
Do you really think it is because they supposedly don't understand technology? I've read that they are simply particularly "sympathetic" to patents over there, which is why there are a host of patent trolls / NPEs that have their mail address over there. This American Life had a good episode about it.
- icelancer 14y agoA close friend of mine defends major smartphone companies as well as other tech companies. He's told me the average presiding judge has no idea how to connect to the Internet, much less understand JPG compression (an actual case my friend worked on). It's probably both.
- andreasvc 14y agoI don't think the judges over there are substantially more ignorant about technology than the average judge in Kentucky or Montana, etc. They can call in experts to advise on technical questions. I'm afraid technical knowledge wouldn't help much, they have this cottage industry of patent lawsuits and they'd probably prefer things to stay as they are.
- icelancer 14y agoAnother popular tactic: Suing porn companies to be granted standing (all the conservative judges in the South will gladly hear cases that cost porn companies money), then add defendants that you want to shake down. In the past, patent trolls have done this with Google/Microsoft/etc, but apparently these large companies have been fighting back or (more commonly) lobbying to get patent troll applications violated, so the nuisance patent trolls tend to stick to small companies they can easily shake down for a $20,000 "licensing fee."