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Yahoo Crosses The Line

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Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#41

Post by simonw »

sparkie wrote: post #12
viggity wrote: post #6

I really don't like saying this, but here it goes: Don't hate the player, hate the game. We need real, substantive patent reform in this country.

Absolutely. It's easy to bash at Yahoo, but we can't forget that while Facebook (and many other players, including Yahoo) are using one hand undermine the "intellectual property" of other companies, they're using their other hand to try and protect their own IP using the same laws. Take this absurd Facebook patent as an example >System and method for dynamically providing a news feed about a user of a social network…

> Why else would they file for patents if their intent wasn't to defend "their ideas."

As the original article said, most SV web companies claim to file patents as a defensive measure - so if they get sued by someone else, they can hit back. Suing first is extremely bad form.

> If we're calling out Yahoo's patents as junk, we should be doing the same for facebook and the rest

I don't see anyone saying that Facebook's patents are fine and Yahoo!'s are junk - Yahoo! are being criticised because they're attempting to enforce their junk patents. If Facebook attempted to force theirs they would get exactly the same flack for it.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#42

Post by simonw »

gaius wrote: post #19
alsothings wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree completely. While Y! is clearly acting in desperation, this is an obvious and predictable act given the legal system in which they operate and patent portfolio they have. We can (and should!) demand that they not do the expected, but I the think anger is better focused on systemic reform then getting angry at any single company's actions. In a system of laws, what else should anyone expect but a legal entity…

We can (and should!) demand that they not do the expected Then you are demanding that the board neglect its fiduciary responsibilities and go to jail.

If the board decide to pursue bogus patent lawsuits, throw millions of dollars at at and lose the case, should they go to jail for making a poor decision?

If they go for it, win, but every single talented engineer at Yahoo! quits in disgust and the company falls apart, should the board go to jail then as well?

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#44

Post by nikcub »

gaius wrote: post #19
alsothings wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree completely. While Y! is clearly acting in desperation, this is an obvious and predictable act given the legal system in which they operate and patent portfolio they have. We can (and should!) demand that they not do the expected, but I the think anger is better focused on systemic reform then getting angry at any single company's actions. In a system of laws, what else should anyone expect but a legal entity…

We can (and should!) demand that they not do the expected Then you are demanding that the board neglect its fiduciary responsibilities and go to jail.

Fiduciary duty doesn't mean attempt to maximize revenue and profits at all costs [1]

besides, I would argue that the cost in both goodwill and brand value of pursuing a strategy of patent licensing far outweigh the potential benefits.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_judgment_rule#Standard...

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#45

Post by CPlatypus »

JoachimSchipper wrote: post #25
CPlatypus wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His blog title is "A VC" plus right at the top of the page it says "Fred Wilson is a VC and principal of Union Square Ventures" so yeah, I think I was on pretty firm ground there.

There is no doubt that Fred Wilson is a VC. You haven't shown that he pushes startups to apply for frivolous patents, though.

No, sorry, I'm not in the room at other people's startups when they do that. What I can do, however, is look at the list of investments at Union Square Ventures where he's a principal. Then I can find patents and applications for founders and VPs at Etsy, Twilio, GetGlue, and others. I've probably been at more startups than most in this thread, and I've been under that pressure myself, so I know exactly how that happens. Do I know Fred was involved here? No. Does it seem likely? Yes. He sure doesn't seem to take a strong stance against the practice, does he?

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#47

Post by Jasber »

maximveksler wrote: post #28
IgorPartola wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why I use my own domain for my primary email address. If Google decides to pull some kind of crap on me, I can always ditch them without having to write that silly "My new email is" message to all my contacts.

I use a personal email domain on gmail[1] as well. But for a different reason: It allows a "catch all" email, so I register on every site as @vekslers.org and have my account act as a catch all sink. This allows me to both filter out spamming sources and trace back who leaked my email address to 3rd party sources. This approach is a pivot on the name+tag@domain.com email tagging which most js form validations devs ar…

This sounds like a good setup (and workaround the name+tag issue). Can regular Gmail handle a catch all or is this a paid feature?

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#48

Post by barrynolan »

viggity wrote: post #6

I really don't like saying this, but here it goes: Don't hate the player, hate the game. We need real, substantive patent reform in this country.

True. Very true. They are in a weak position, and this is their hand.

It may take all out war, and an overwhelming of the legal v startup ecosystem, before sense returns. Akin to the opinion piece in the NYTimes "Go to Trial: Crash the Justice System" over the weekend.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#49

Post by lusr »

JoachimSchipper wrote: post #25
CPlatypus wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His blog title is "A VC" plus right at the top of the page it says "Fred Wilson is a VC and principal of Union Square Ventures" so yeah, I think I was on pretty firm ground there.

There is no doubt that Fred Wilson is a VC. You haven't shown that he pushes startups to apply for frivolous patents, though.

Not only that but Fred would have to push for enforcing the frivolous patents for OPs criticism to be justified.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#50

Post by bambax »

icebraining wrote: post #43
bambax wrote: post #13

> I used to care about that company for some reason That's the strangest part. I never found Yahoo useful for anything (except Douglas Crockford, but he could have been employed anywhere).

Yahoo! Pipes is extremely useful.

I did try that and found it not very consistent; plus you never know when it's going to be discontinued.
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