Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#1

Post by sonnyblarney » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 3:36 AM UTC

Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology
arstechnica.com

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#2

Post by steve_adams_86 » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 4:30 AM UTC

That's stunning that (evidently) no one noticed the patents were for a physically impossible design. Was the legal battle even about the designs or more so for posturing?

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#3

Post by dang » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 4:46 AM UTC

Url changed from https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/waymo-uber-lidar-patent-e..., which points to this.

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#4

Post by TheM00se » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 5:03 AM UTC

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #2

That's stunning that (evidently) no one noticed the patents were for a physically impossible design. Was the legal battle even about the designs or more so for posturing?

the later, it's for having an IP portfolio and getting a choke-hold on the market

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#5

Post by canada_dry » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 5:04 AM UTC

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #2

That's stunning that (evidently) no one noticed the patents were for a physically impossible design. Was the legal battle even about the designs or more so for posturing?

I agree.

Just like how engineers certify building plans to ensure the laws of physics are respected, patents really should need to go through some sort of peer certification review - at the submitter's expense - before it gets in front of an examiner!

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#6

Post by Groxx » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 5:08 AM UTC

canada_dry wrote: post #5

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #2

That's stunning that (evidently) no one noticed the patents were for a physically impossible design. Was the legal battle even about the designs or more so for posturing?

I agree. Just like how engineers certify building plans to ensure the laws of physics are respected, patents really should need to go through some sort of peer certification review - at the submitter's expense - before it gets in front of an examiner!

Making patents even slower to approve, and even more big-corp-only focused.

You win some, you lose some. I'm not even sure which I'd prefer. It's all just fairly terrible.

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#7

Post by drakenot » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 5:14 AM UTC

I'm impressed that the random engineer was willing to put up $6k of his own money to challenge the patent, despite not benefiting from the decision in any way.

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#8

Post by rkagerer » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 5:15 AM UTC

Well done

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#9

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 5:20 AM UTC

drakenot wrote: post #7

I'm impressed that the random engineer was willing to put up $6k of his own money to challenge the patent, despite not benefiting from the decision in any way.

[deleted]

Re: Vigilante engineer stops Waymo from patenting key lidar technology

#10

Post by CloudYeller » Tue, Oct 02, 2018, 5:23 AM UTC

drakenot wrote: post #7

I'm impressed that the random engineer was willing to put up $6k of his own money to challenge the patent, despite not benefiting from the decision in any way.

"Random engineer", or guy who sold a company for $130M after a patent-induced nightmare? https://www.wired.com/story/eric-swildens-uber-waymo-lawsuit...