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When Patents Attack – Part Two
- greenyoda 13y agoI just heard this on the radio and it's definitely worth listening to, but the podcast will only be available on Sunday evening. The story follows a software patent that was bought by Intellectual Ventures (Nathan Myhrvold's patent troll company) and subsequently used to sue a number of tech companies. Most of the companies settled, but two of the companies fought back and... I don't want to spoil the ending for you. The first part of the story is a repeat of a segment that originally aired in 2011, but left a lot of questions unanswered. The second half ties up the loose ends. The current episode is called "Part Two", but actually includes both parts.
- zacharypinter 13y agoTheir download links are numbered by episode and usually available right away even if the website isn't updated: http://podcast.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/496.mp3 http://podcast.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/496.mp3
- klenwell 13y agoIf you can't wait until then, you can also look for it online using PublicRadioFan.com: http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/program.pl?programid=28 http://www.publicradiofan.com/cgibin/program.pl?programid=28 This is especially useful with the NPR app.
- ISL 13y agoStreaming now on KUOW http://shoutcast.kuow.org:8002/ http://shoutcast.kuow.org:8002/
- melling 13y ago100 new software patents a day... Someone owns a patent for public wifi and is sueing coffee shops. They aren't going after private individuals yet. Basically, now that people found out how profitable it is being in the patent troll business, it has gotten even bigger.
- jimray 13y agoMule Radio (I work there, you may know us as home of John Gruber's The Talk Show) donated $1000 to the EFF to help fight this patent. You can, too. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/help-save-podcasting https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/help-save-podcasting On another note, it's nice to see Nathan Myhrvold getting called out as the patent troll he so clearly is, despite the bogus persona of a modern renaissance man he so carefully cultivates.
- georgemcbay 13y agoWell, he's actually both. I've been a critic of Myhrvold for almost as long as Intellectual Vultures... ahem, Ventures, has existed and I am very against software patents but there is no denying he is very smart, very talented and quite adept as a practitioner of quite a few activities. Him being a patent troll, as distasteful as I find that, doesn't negate the other stuff.
- randomfool 13y agoThis issue needs more mainstream coverage like this. Get the word out! I never really bought Intellectual Ventures argument that they aren't a patent troll, but after hearing about the shell company they set up and the 90% cut IV gets of any settlements, it's shameful.
- chris_wot 13y agoI love NPR. Thank you U.S. Citizens and companies for making contributions to this important part of society. When I have enough money I'm going to make a donation. From Australia.
- wildgift 13y agoI believe TAL is from Public Radio Intl. but you can also just donate to TAL. I slip them a little bit every couple years. You can also buy the app.
- ndesaulniers 13y agoLaura has been out interviewing people in the Bay Area regarding software patents, I'd be willing to bet there will be a part three soon! :-X Edit: Nvm there I am, at 51:34!