Google: Patently Absurd

#1

Post by joshus » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:07 PM UTC

Google: Patently Absurd
daringfireball.net

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#2

Post by bdhe » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:26 PM UTC

Does anyone else feel the word undermine is not appropriate in this quote (due to which, I'm unable to understand the point behind the comparison):

It’s OK for Google to undermine Microsoft’s for-pay OS licensing business by giving Android away for free, but it’s not OK for Microsoft to undermine Google’s attempts to give away for free an OS that violates patents belonging to Microsoft?

[1] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/undermine

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#3

Post by aristidb » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:27 PM UTC

"But what exactly does Google need to defend against, if not actual patents Android actually violates?"

Of course Android violates patents. Just like any sufficiently non-trivial piece of software...

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#4

Post by barredo » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:27 PM UTC

What I think:

It's ok for Apple, Microsoft et al to defend themselves if Android violates their own patents.

It's not ok for Apple, Microsoft et al to defend themselves if Android violates patents they didn't develop.

Also, remember that although Microsoft & Oracle claims that Android violated some of their software patents, Apple claims against Samsung go far beyond that, this analysis by Nilay Patel is pretty good: http://thisismynext.com/2011/04/19/apple-sues-samsung-analys...

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#5

Post by cheald » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:27 PM UTC

I'm not sure how to say this without coming across as incendiary, but what the hell? Is Gruber utterly oblivious to the horrible state of software patents and their abuses? Is he actually condoning the abominable software patents that every other sane developer despises?

Yes, Google is trying to ward off being picked to death by a myriad of utterly worthless (in the market, not legal sense) patents. Yes, Google is likely in violation of several thousand patents with Android, and all of its other software products. Guess what? So is damn near every other developer on the face of the planet, but Google has a big fat target painted on their back because of Android's success. They would be crazy to not try to acquire a defensive patent portfolio.

I'll guarantee you that I violated a good half-dozen patents in the course of my absolutely routine work today. That doesn't mean that I'm a mean nasty violator out to undermine free enterprise, it means that software patents suck. Apple and Microsoft have both proven that they will use these garbage patents offensively to drive competitors out of the market, and Google is left in the position of "acquire means of mutually assured destruction to protect ourselves with or die by horribly broken patent law". Which do you think is the sane and responsible course of action?

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#6

Post by tonetheman » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:28 PM UTC

Does anyone else feel like the apple shill is worried that his precious is losing to android? haha... software patents suck... it is bad for apple and google and any other tech company.

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#7

Post by Vexenon » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:28 PM UTC

The one thing I'll agree on with Google: the patent system is flawed ― too bad this is really the only good point (or excuse, I should say) they're using to defend themselves. Then again, Gruber shouldn't be condoning the validity of software patents in the first place, because they suck.

Aside from that, I think Gruber hit the nail on the head (though his usage of undermine seemed a bit odd and out of place).

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#8

Post by ddrmaxgt37 » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:28 PM UTC

cheald wrote: post #5

I'm not sure how to say this without coming across as incendiary, but what the hell? Is Gruber utterly oblivious to the horrible state of software patents and their abuses? Is he actually condoning the abominable software patents that every other sane developer despises? Yes, Google is trying to ward off being picked to death by a myriad of utterly worthless (in the market, not legal sense) patents. Yes, Google is li…

i think you missed the point.

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#9

Post by miratom » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:29 PM UTC

When will Apple respond to bad press directly instead of hiding behind this clown?

Re: Google: Patently Absurd

#10

Post by pkamb » Wed, Aug 03, 2011, 11:29 PM UTC

cheald wrote: post #5

I'm not sure how to say this without coming across as incendiary, but what the hell? Is Gruber utterly oblivious to the horrible state of software patents and their abuses? Is he actually condoning the abominable software patents that every other sane developer despises? Yes, Google is trying to ward off being picked to death by a myriad of utterly worthless (in the market, not legal sense) patents. Yes, Google is li…

"No one other than Nathan Myrvold and his cronies sees the U.S. patent system as functioning properly, but Google’s hypocrisy here is absurd. Google isn’t arguing against a handful of never-should-have-been-issued software patents. They’re not arguing against patent trolls like Myrvold and his shell companies like Lodsys — companies that have no products of their own, no actual inventions, just patents for ideas for products." - Gruber