4 ms·
This points to an interesting strategy folks could take when taking on Patent Trolls ... cutting through the corporate veil of the holding companies and persona
by nlh 13y ago
This points to an interesting strategy folks could take when taking on Patent Trolls ... cutting through the corporate veil of the holding companies and personally identifying the people who are behind the trolls....the inventors, the patent owners, the lawyers, etc.
Not to cross the line by slandering them, but just shining a light on them -- shaming them, basically.
I'm sure plenty don't and won't care, but I wonder whether it might make a dent. Maybe that inventor who figured "sure, why not - free money from my patent" might have a different feeling if the whole world knows what they're up to and doing so damages their reputation.
- jlgreco 13y agoThe most beneficial aspect of reacting this way is probably from letting others being victimized by the troll know that they are not alone. I am sure these trolls are careful to only bite off what they think they can chew, but if their targets begin banding together they may find themselves choking.
- karmajunkie 13y agoMy thought is that one of the best paths to patent reform is that all patent infringement claims must be publicly submitted, even prior to legal filings. In other words, you can't send me a letter claiming I've infringed. You have to submit it to a government office, who will then forward the claim on to the alleged infringer. This would allow for A) gathering data on actual infringement claims. B) verification of claims. C) collectivization of resources of targeted parties.
- x0054 13y agoThis is the best solution I have heard yet! I wish this would get implemented. For now, a public wiki like system to which anyone could submit claims made against them for patent infringements in order to find others in the same situation, in order to join forces, would be great.
- thinkcomp 13y agoSee http://www.trollingeffects.org http://www.trollingeffects.org, a project of the EFF.
- darth_static 13y agoThere's also http://patents.stackexchange.com http://patents.stackexchange.com, which allows users to request and submit examples of prior art.
- paulsutter 13y agoThere's no need to pierce the corporate veil - RICO charges are against the individuals involved, not the corporation. Their personal assets can be seized even prior to prosecution. It's a brutal law and this is a wonderful way to apply it. From http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corr... "The RICO Act focuses specifically on racketeering, and it allows the leaders of a syndicate to be tried for the crimes which they ordered others to do or assisted them, closing a perceived loophole that allowed someone who told a man to, for example, murder, to be exempt from the trial because he did not actually commit the crime personally." For example in the case that a corporation commits the covered crimes, such as extortion, the individuals driving the actions are subject to RICO prosecution. The penalties are brutal, it's fantastic for trolls: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1963 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1963
- ChuckMcM 13y agoAnd once you start forfeiting the troll's assets right out from under their noses, well that is really going to leave a mark.
- huhtenberg 13y ago> The penalties are brutal And, regretfully, it's likely the reason why RICO won't be applied against patent trolls.