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Business reality: patent trolls exist. Rational strategy: patent things that you think you have no business patenting. Use for defensive purposes. If Makerbot
by bernardom 12y ago
Business reality: patent trolls exist.
Rational strategy: patent things that you think you have no business patenting. Use for defensive purposes.
If Makerbot starts using such patents offensively, then anger is warranted. Not before.
- hyborg787 12y agoHow do you avoid the chilling effects of patents existing then without getting into patent pools or cross-licensing arrangements? People will be hesitant to put any time into R&D if they don't have assurances their work won't be quashed by lawyers.
- nova 12y agoFunny how patents are supposed to encourage innovation and they're doing exactly the opposite.
- bernardom 12y agoJust commented on this below (sorry it's so late). It's an arms race! The system is broken. But I wouldn't blame an individual for picking the right strategy to maximize their chances.
- rhizome 12y agoIf Makerbot starts using such patents offensively, then anger is warranted. Not before. The problem with that is that you don't know whether they'll use the patent offensively or defensively until after it's granted.
- general_failure 12y agoRight, one cannot start a competing company assuming that Makerbot won't sue.
- bernardom 12y agoGreat points. But isn't this the dictionary definition of "don't hate the player, hate the game?" They need to arm themselves to survive an attack... which makes it so everyone else has to arm themselves in case they attack... arms race!
- fudged71 12y agoMakerbot is now owned by Stratasys. Stratasys is now attacking Makerbot alternatives such as Afinia. http://3dprintingindustry.com/2013/11/26/stratasys-throws-curve-ball-smacks-afinia-lawsuit/ http://3dprintingindustry.com/2013/11/26/stratasys-throws-cu...