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Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

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Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#31

Post by maxwell »

cloudkj wrote: post #25
cookiecaper wrote: post #6

This is good. We need more of these things to happen so that we can get some power behind the anti-software-patent lobby. Software patents have to become too dangerous to keep around, and that happens by things like this; right now, Microsoft and others use patents to lord over Linux and make vague threats about litigation. This is an important part of Microsoft's strategy, so software patents are important to them.…

I'd argue that, rather than banning software patents outright, the process by which these patents are approved should be put under high scrutiny and changed. For a lot of large companies, the approach really is similar to throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks. Having gone through the process recently, I'm amazed at how easy it is for an engineer to conceive an idea, pitch it to a few paralegals…

> You need a mechanism in place to protect the property rights of individuals and corporations.

Trademarks. Copyrights.

Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#33

Post by voidpointer »

steveklabnik wrote: post #26
cloudkj wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that, rather than banning software patents outright, the process by which these patents are approved should be put under high scrutiny and changed. For a lot of large companies, the approach really is similar to throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks. Having gone through the process recently, I'm amazed at how easy it is for an engineer to conceive an idea, pitch it to a few paralegals…

> Getting rid of software patents altogether is quite extreme. Really? I'd think that most people in software have the opinion that there should be no software patents at all. It's kind of silly, frankly.

The software companies themselves often argue that they don' really want software patents. However, the fact that other can file patents puts them into a position where they need to file patents themselves for protection. It's just a stupid arms race. Now and then, a patent troll with noting to lose shows up and shakes up the picture. You could call it a sort of IP terrorism :-)

Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#34

Post by krakensden »

Vivtek wrote: post #17
NathanKP wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the same time legitimate software patents can help to protect small software studios and startups. It is a double edged sword.

They're far more often used as bludgeons to drain the defense coffers of small software studios and startups. By the time a patent is granted, that startup has moved on to something better - show me a single software patent that a competent programmer couldn't develop in a few weeks given the description. Not the patented mechanism (that's generally obvious and we all know it), just what the invention is supposed to…

RSA.

But you're still correct.

Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#36

Post by discojesus »

cookiecaper wrote: post #6

This is good. We need more of these things to happen so that we can get some power behind the anti-software-patent lobby. Software patents have to become too dangerous to keep around, and that happens by things like this; right now, Microsoft and others use patents to lord over Linux and make vague threats about litigation. This is an important part of Microsoft's strategy, so software patents are important to them.…

awesome things like making it illegal to sell Word and therefore Office

How about just making your open source alternative to Word and Office that much better and competing with them?

* edit: downmodded without justification. Wonderful. Which just forces the quality of discussion on HN WAY down. Ironically, understanding that concept requires understanding incentives, which are the basis of patents in the first place :)

Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#37

Post by krakensden »

flatline wrote: post #20
NathanKP wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the same time legitimate software patents can help to protect small software studios and startups. It is a double edged sword.

Protection results in a racket as its ultimate end. I see small studios and startups doing just fine right now without patents, which are expensive and require a lot of specialized knowledge to apply for. Who is being protected from what by patents, exactly?

This. The only people who can afford and want to lawyer up with patents are exactly the people who shouldn't have them.

There are some rare exceptions, but continuing to punish the majority for their sake seems silly.

Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#38

Post by wglb »

NathanKP wrote: post #13
cookiecaper wrote: post #6

This is good. We need more of these things to happen so that we can get some power behind the anti-software-patent lobby. Software patents have to become too dangerous to keep around, and that happens by things like this; right now, Microsoft and others use patents to lord over Linux and make vague threats about litigation. This is an important part of Microsoft's strategy, so software patents are important to them.…

At the same time legitimate software patents can help to protect small software studios and startups. It is a double edged sword.

One author at http://www.tinaja.com/patnt01.asp feels that the break-even point for patents is $12 to $14 million.

Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#39

Post by nostrademons »

bioweek wrote: post #27

Why is MSFT stock up for the day and for the week? Shouldn't this majorly affect their revenue?

The stock is supposed to reflect the discounted value of all future cash flows. In the grand scheme of Microsoft's Infinite Revenue Machine, having Word off the market for a month or so while they figure out a workaround really doesn't make much of a dent.

Re: Court: Microsoft violated patent; can't sell Word

#40

Post by wglb »

breck wrote: post #19
NathanKP wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the same time legitimate software patents can help to protect small software studios and startups. It is a double edged sword.

> "legitimate software patents" I think the issue here is a lot of people don't think there is such a thing.

There are a few that think they are useful: http://www.paulgraham.com/softwarepatents.html
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