Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online • Hacker News Board

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#11

Post by joebananas » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 2:30 PM UTC

Surely this patent would run into 1st amendment issues were it ever to go to court?

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#12

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 2:34 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#13

Post by TheUSMarshall » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 2:53 PM UTC

This is the equivalent of patenting the concept of product endorsements - i.e. if Wheaties had a patent on celebrities endorsing cereal. It seems that this patent would infringe on the freedom of the "celebrity" to choose how they want to connect with their fans.

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#14

Post by vaksel » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 3:05 PM UTC

I think the main problem with patents like this is that there is no accountability.

If the person who granted such a ridiculous patent was fired for negligence, maybe it'd motivate them to be a little more strict

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#15

Post by noonespecial » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 3:07 PM UTC

Of course it's ridiculous. They are hoping that twitter just pays them to go away. If it loks like twitter has a backbone and it's going to actual court, they can just drop the case. Why not? It's free to try.

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#16

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 3:10 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#17

Post by baddox » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 3:12 PM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #16

[deleted]

You mean like this:

http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2008/11/junk-patents.html

Or like this:

http://www.conceivablytech.com/4823/business/the-ultimate-pa...

?

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#18

Post by stanleydrew » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 3:17 PM UTC

noonespecial wrote: post #15

Of course it's ridiculous. They are hoping that twitter just pays them to go away. If it loks like twitter has a backbone and it's going to actual court, they can just drop the case. Why not? It's free to try.

Well not entirely free. It will cost them something in court and legal fees right?

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#19

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 3:22 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Twitter Gets Sued For Letting Famous People Interact Online

#20

Post by chopsueyar » Thu, Jan 20, 2011, 3:26 PM UTC

joebananas wrote: post #11

Surely this patent would run into 1st amendment issues were it ever to go to court?

How so?