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>In this case there is no "Beat to the patent." The fact that they were issued a patent says otherwise.

• lotsofmangos 12y ago
  No it doesn't. It just means that money has been spent needlessly on something that should it ever actually end up in court will just be a colossal waste of time and money for everyone concerned. Merely being issued a patent doesn't prove if the patent is worth a damn, there was a patent issued for a method of swinging on a swing http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6368227 http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6368227
  • hnnewguy 12y ago
    >No it doesn't. Yes, it does. They got a patent for the process, meaning had they not, someone else might have. Hence them "beating" others to the patent. I'm not arguing about the validity of the patent, or really, the system in general. I'm saying, it's better to have the patent yourself then be sued by a troll holding a patent for a ridiculous process you're using, resulting in a "colossal waste of time and money for everyone concerned." Unfortunately, this is the state of the world; some players filing over-arching, stupid patents, others filing defensive patents for leverage and protection. Until they sue someone for this, it's impossible to know the intent. Regardless, it corrupts the system.