VN Boards Archive

[VN Boards Archive]

Welcome to the Vault Network forum archive.

This is not a complete archive, time didn't allot us the opportunity to properly backup the majority of the boards deemed "expendable". Most boards on this list have at least 20-40 pages archived (non-logged in pages, 15 topics per page).

Popular boards may have as many as 250 pages archived at 50 topics per page, while others deemed of historical signifigance may be archived in their entirety.

We may not agree with how the board shutdown was managed, but we've done what we could to preserve some of its history in lieu of that.

Please enjoy the archive.
~ Managers, Moderators, VIP's, and regular posters.

Author

Topic: The Patent Wars

Ravynmagi Title: Moderator Posts: 29,978 Registered: Dec 23, '01 Extended Info (if available) Real Post Cnt: 29,452 User ID: 572,278	Subject: The Patent Wars
	In the tech business it seems the patent system is like an arms race. You want to stock pile as many patents as you can to protect yourself from aggressors. You'll even buy worthless companies if they have some useful patents that might help against an enemy. Google is a giant and has lots of money, but their patent profile is weak. Microsoft claims Android violates some of it's patents. Microsoft could sue Google, but that would be a tough, long, and expensive fight. Instead Microsoft is taking the easier route. They are going after Android phone manufactures. Microsoft has so far gotten 5 manufactures to pay license fees for Android. Right now Microsoft makes more money from Android phones than it does from Windows phones. And next Microsoft is going after the biggest fish, Samsung. Google hasn't done anything to stop this, because they are defenseless. Google tried to buy Nortel for it's patents. If successful Google would have some weapons to defend it's phone manufactures against Microsoft. Because pretty much everyone is violating everyone else patents. So if you have a lot of patents you can defend yourself against someone else with patents. But Apple outbid Google and now Apple has even more patents and Google still looking defenseless. Apple has lots and lots of patents and is adding a bunch more with Nortel. And Apple is attacking HTC (whom is already paying Microsoft licensing fees for Android) with it's patents. So HTC has done the sensible thing and armed itself. HTC just bought S3 graphics. Turns out it was recently discovered that S3 owns some patents that Apple is using. So now HTC can counterattack Apple and maybe get Apple to back off. And then you got companies that do absolutely nothing, but patent things they will never actually use. They just generate random ideas, patent them, and hope someone actually makes use of it, so they can sue them. Patent trolls. Lodsys is such a company, they don't do anything but patent and sue. Lodsys went after Apple and Apple paid them a license fee for whatever patent they had (something about app development I think). Then Lodsys went after the third party developers in the Apple App Store. Apple is fighting Lodsys now saying since it already paid the license, that covers it's developers as well. Lodsys seems to be backing off a bit now. They are some dinky patent troll and don't want to press it's luck against Apple. After Apple bared it's teeth and chased Lodsys off (maybe), they've now turned their attention to Android developers. Not quite as lucrative a target, but more defenseless and Google doesn't seem to be able to protect them. Lodsys is even going after bigger companies like the NY Times and a few other companies that do business on the Internet for patent violations. -----signature----- (none)
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SlyLoK Posts: ???? Registered: ???? Extended Info (if available) Real Post Cnt: 0 User ID: 0	Subject: The Patent Wars
	Patent system needs to be reworked for sure. Us VN people should get together and create some vague wording that sounds like we know what we are talking about and then just start suing everyone. -----signature-----
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Lonestar_1 Posts: 4,224 Registered: Aug 26, '04 Extended Info (if available) Real Post Cnt: 3,775 User ID: 960,112	Subject: The Patent Wars
	The problem is the patent office does not have qualified people to do it for starters. I have read a few software patents and they are mostly stupid. Most are not some new invention and are not worthy of a patent. Many of these become invalidated on court issued reviews. Its a waste of time and money. I will leave out more personal opinions of our overall patent process, software patents and how bad it all is lol. -----signature----- http://gimpchimp.etilader.com/display.php?user=lonestarr 3500+ solo kills & Lone Enforcer WAR - IronRock Dest- Energist, Moogabooga SWTOR - KV - Energist, Moogabooga
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Ravynmagi Title: Moderator Posts: 29,978 Registered: Dec 23, '01 Extended Info (if available) Real Post Cnt: 29,452 User ID: 572,278	Subject: The Patent Wars
	Yeah, it's been all down hill ever since Albert left. -----signature----- (none)
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