Live data from Hacker News

Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

techdirt.com

41–50 of 97 posts

Re: Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

#42
post #5

It's nice to see that Innovatio IP is focused democratizing the opportunity to license their patents. Patent trolling isn't just for the Fortune 500 anymore.

Look who's talking: a patent troll himself. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3058876

Re: Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

#43

What is this patent actually for? I was looking up wifi, and the precursor to 802.11 came out in '91. That's well over 17 years ago.

US Patent 6714559 is one they sued several hotels over. It was filed in 2001 but was a string of 6 continuations of a patent filed November, 1991.

Re: Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

#46
post #5

It's nice to see that Innovatio IP is focused democratizing the opportunity to license their patents. Patent trolling isn't just for the Fortune 500 anymore.

Look who's talking: a patent troll himself. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3058876

Have you considered law school?

Your insights into the actionability of patent applications would be highly informative to the majority of legal scholars and practicing lawyers.

Re: Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

#47
It sounds like they're going after small business owners individually, so not necessarily "any old joe." Still, this gives me hope given how hot small businesses are in the current political climate. Perhaps targeting one or two of the wrong (read: noisy and politically-connected) owners will result in an outcome at least slightly positive for patent reform?

Re: Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Politicians created the problem by creating IP laws. If they "solve" it, they will undoubtedly just introduce some new problem.

That's a really cynical view, isn't it? Implying that the people, through their democratically elected governments, can't ever improve upon things that have come before.

Cynicism is rarely proven wrong in cases like this.

Re: Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

#49

The book "Against Intellectual Monopoly" is highly recommended reading for the question of patents (and other intellectual property). The authors make a mostly empirical survey of the effects of intellectual property laws and of their absence in a wide range of industries, and conclude that their effect is a stifling rather than an encouragement of innovation. I think it's especially appropriate because, while my own…

Intellectual property and patents are not the problem, the problem is the broken system around them that allows these types of abuses.

Re: Patent Troll: Anyone Using WiFi Infringes; Won't Sue Individuals 'At This Stage'

#50
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Never heard of that rule. Perhaps you are confusing with trademarks, which you must defend? Or you are confused about the damages - you can't collect damages on anything that happened before you told the victim "you are infringing, now stop or pay me $XXX". But you definitely can collect from that point on (triple damages, if willful infringement is established)

Gah, you're right, I was thinking of trademarks. I need to stop mixing trademarks, patents and copyright up in my head.

IIRC, you could argue in court that the patent-holder knew that infringement was happening, yet only decided to come out of the woodwork in the 11th hour. I think that this defense has worked in the past, but you would need to spend a bunch of money to get to that point though.
Post reply on HN