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Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

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Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#121
post #13

The patent describes something very like Moom's "Grid" feature (I think the «select more than one selectable region» bit is the key restriction). So if the patent stands up, I suppose they'd have the option of just removing that feature.

Sadly, that's Moom's best, differentiating feature.

Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#122

Oh dear. I guess Spectacle (the app I use that does a similar thing) will be on a pretty long list of those to follow.

I've been using Magnet for a while now. It seems much more stable and efficient than Spectacle. Hopefully it will not end up on this chopping block as well. http://magnet.crowdcafe.com/

Magnet author here. We’re from Europe, Czech Republic in particular, so I don’t think we’re a viable target for a US patent troll. Glad you like our app!

Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#123

Oh dear. I guess Spectacle (the app I use that does a similar thing) will be on a pretty long list of those to follow.

Does Spectical have a grid UI like that? I've only ever used keyboard shortcuts to position the windows using it. If it doesn't have that grid UI selector thing then I think it's fine.

Spectacle has keyboard shortcuts - in fact, I think that's all it has. All I use it for at least. The first command sets the window to 1/2 width (or height), second tap sets it to 2/3, third tap sets it to 1/3. Works great for me. Also I should note it's OSS.

Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My main beef with patents (from a layperson's perspective) is that due consideration isn't adequately given to the effort taken by the patent owner to provide some sort of value to society in general. What use is a novel invention if the patent owner does nothing with it. I would argue that Moom or other apps have provided more value to society at-large as compared to the patent owner.

One could argue that securing the patent puts the innovation into the public domain. Otherwise it might have stayed inside one person or company's domain. Then died with them.

When was the last time you actually read a patent to learn about a novel technology? As opposed to an article, published paper, conference talk, random blog post, or a thousand other sources? They're not particularly good forms for conveying information; they exist primarily to stake a claim on a pile of territory.

That leaves aside the liabilities that reading patents to learn about technologies can open you up to, in the form of "willful infringement.

Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#126
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

but it was completely not novel at the time of the patent

What other tiling WMs had the same gui menu to select layout?

Window Tidy had it as early as 2011.

http://lightpillar.com/window-tidy.html

Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#127
post #69

knowing absolutely nothing about patent law, I'm surprised that tiling window managers are not considered prior art or would at least mean this idea is not novel.

Read the patent. I'm not aware of any TWMs implementing the kind of grid interface Moom is using.

Window Tidy had it as early as 2011.

http://lightpillar.com/window-tidy.html

Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#128
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using Magnet for a while now. It seems much more stable and efficient than Spectacle. Hopefully it will not end up on this chopping block as well. http://magnet.crowdcafe.com/

Magnet author here. We’re from Europe, Czech Republic in particular, so I don’t think we’re a viable target for a US patent troll. Glad you like our app!

Hey, I mailed you guys but you never responded :( Would it be possible to add sort of a tiling window manager mode that would disallow stacking and force any open window to adhere to a 6x6 (or whatever) grid? Sort of like Amethyst..

Re: Moom removed from sale due to patent violation claim

#130

What's the best way to prevent patent trolls from suing you? Or is it more like hoping to just have luck and not get sued?

1. Have a lot of money to hire best layers to sink bastard. 2. Work for a big corp/government. 3. Live in a country where they don't give a damn about patents.
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