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For startups in emerging fields, patents are critical
- Jare 14y agoTheir idea is obvious ("existing X applied to existing Y"). Their business value should be in implementation, execution and first mover advantage, not in some imaginary "claims" to an obvious idea that anyone can come up with without breaking a sweat. The entire article boils down to "patents are bad except when they're ours", and that's disgusting.
- rfreytag 14y agoPatents definitely have problems - I agree. But they are here, now, and I hear patents are crushing startups. This article just presents that sobering reality and how an innovator might address the patent threat until this mess is fixed - which looks to be taking a while.
- Jare 14y ago> how an innovator might address the patent threat until this mess is fixed I have no issue with anyone claiming patents defensively, but he's trying to justify having a claim and an exclusive right to an obvious idea. THAT is trolling no matter how much he calls himself an innovator, a grassroots developer or whatever. He's part of the problem, not the solution.
- rfreytag 14y agoI totally see your point. I gather you would not accept that when others are claiming obvious patents one has to as well until some higher power changes the rules lest one be trolled into nonexistence? I think the guy is being pragmatic - it isn't great - but it is pragmatic. He may well be using the exclusive power of patents in ways that are anti-competitive. He doesn't say - you are right about that. Patents are very likely to be a waste of money unless the patent laws are 'fixed' somehow to preserve the value of the existing patents - at least until they expire. And for a lot of people that wouldn't be a 'fix' at all.