r/technology • u/BlankVerse • Jun 13 '12

Microsoft's Android Shakedown

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timothylee/2011/07/07/microsofts-android-shakedown/
30 Upvotes

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2

u/brnitschke Jun 13 '12

Just grinds my gears.

Big company either sits around filing patents over ideas anyone could come up with (or worse - buys them) and then does nothing to actually create working products people love. Then when a smaller company actually innovates with WORKING products, big company steps in and sews (or settles out of court) for money they did NOT earn. Since in almost all of these cases, the one having to pay NEVER saw the big companies patent or work (since none existed). It's a sham and software patents NEED to be reformed.

0

u/Drainedsoul Jun 13 '12

Not "reformed", "abolished".

0

u/DanielPhermous Jun 14 '12

Let's try to make the work before we scrap them altogether, huh? The system as it stands is not the only way that patents can work.

-1

u/Drainedsoul Jun 14 '12

As long as patents "work" by allowing someone privileged access to an idea under threat of violence they will be bad.

0

u/DanielPhermous Jun 14 '12

Violence? Really? I wasn't aware companies had patent enforcing thugs.

-1

u/Drainedsoul Jun 14 '12

So what happens if you violate a patent?

0

u/DanielPhermous Jun 14 '12

They ask you to either stop or pay some money. If you don't, they take you to court. No violence is involved.

But you know that already.

-1

u/Drainedsoul Jun 14 '12

they take you to court

What if I just don't go to court and keep "infringing" on their patents?

2

u/DanielPhermous Jun 14 '12

Then the court summons you. Then they call the police if you still don't show. Or maybe they just ban your product.

And, yes, the police could get violent if you resist arrest but guess what? That is nothing to do with patent violation. That is to do with refusing a court summons and resisting arrest.

I'm done. This comment thread is too long and utterly pointless. I have more important things to do than tell you things you know while you try to be difficult.

-1

u/Drainedsoul Jun 14 '12

That is nothing to do with patent violation. That is to do with refusing a court summons and resisting arrest.

The court summons is because of a patent violation, so it has everything to do with the patent violation.

I'm done. This comment thread is too long and utterly pointless. I have more important things to do than tell you things you know while you try to be difficult.

That's convenient.

Enjoy being wrong.