Yahoo Crosses The Line • Hacker News Board

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#121

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:20 PM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #117

spolsky wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Union Square Ventures, of which Fred Wilson ("the OP") is a partner, is an investor in my startup (Stack Exchange). They never put pressure on us to generate patents. They have been consistently anti-patent for quite some time. They have complained frequently that a third of their portfolio is under attack from patent trolls. They have organized fundraisers and meetings which I have attended with Senator Chuck Schume…

As a publicly traded company, Yahoo does not have the same discretion as a company like StackExchange. I also suspect that startups capable of the sophistication StackExchange brings to the selection of a VC are a distinct minority.

[deleted]

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#122

Post by monochromatic » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:22 PM UTC

This guy doesn't even mention the claims of the patents in suit, so why should I trust his opinion about their merits? If you don't know how to read a patent, you're absolutely not qualified to make pronouncements like this:

> None of them represent unique and new ideas at the time of the filing. I supect they all can be thrown out over prior art if Facebook takes the time and effort to do that.

Also, even the article that he links to just quotes the damn abstracts of the patents, as if that has anything to do with what they cover.

Honestly people, I know you like to rail against software patents and the patent system in general... but educate yourselves first, or you just come off looking ignorant to anyone who knows the first thing about patents.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#123

Post by justmyopinion » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:26 PM UTC

I have no problem with someone being down on ridiculous patents. And think it is great that Joel stood up for Fred to say Fred isn't being hypocritical. However, i think that Fred should have dialed it back a bit before posting. He was trying to get noticed and Yahoo is an easy target as it has been sinking like the Titanic for a few years. But just because it is an easy target doesn't mean you should shoot at it.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#124

Post by logic » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:28 PM UTC

bergie wrote: post #74

The only Yahoo! property that I care about is Flickr, which I also pay for. It would be nice to find an alternative. So: suggestions for a social photo archive service which is reliable enough to be the "master copy" of my pictures, and preferably has Flickr import ability?

Take a look at 500px.com; it seems a large swath of the higher-end of the community is migrating there. At this point, it's probably where I'm going to land with my archive if I have to move.

Unfortunately, I don't believe they have the ability to automatically import your Flickr photos.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#125

Post by ypcx » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:29 PM UTC

Patent system doesn't need to be reformed. It needs to be flat out abolished. It's a disgrace to the human race. You can't own ideas. Patent system is a form of control, just as is oil, or just as the way the monetary system is run. All these must go, will go.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#126

Post by beagle3 » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:31 PM UTC

alsothings wrote: post #15

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.

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…

It's not desperation it all. It is blackmail (or as it was once, and perhaps still, known, "claim-mail").

Facebook has a lot to lose if it is perceived that Yahoo can hurt them, now that they are going public. Which is exactly why Yahoo is doing that, and why they did exactly the same thing when google went public.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#127

Post by tmuir » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:31 PM UTC

wavephorm wrote: post #116

Hoff wrote: post #101

Fred Being Fred aside... Yahoo! could be aiming to be acquired by Facebook or Google. Assuming the patents involved are tenable, this looks rather like a viable reverse-acquisition strategy.

But this really isn't the way to make any friends. I'd be surprised if anyone wants to do business with people like this ever again.

Who manufactures the memory in Apple iOS devices? Samsung.

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#128

Post by ctdonath » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:31 PM UTC

pavel_lishin wrote: post #107

wpietri wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A) I'm perfectly ok with hating the player and the game. Patent reform would be great, but you can't legislate sanity or neighborliness. B) This is not the game. As Fred Wilson explains, web company patents have been thought of as defensive. If this triggers a wave of patent lawsuit bullshit, then everybody will end up poorer. Except the lawyers, of course.

Mutually Assured Litigation.

MALware?

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#129

Post by carbocation » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:32 PM UTC

monochromatic wrote: post #122

This guy doesn't even mention the claims of the patents in suit, so why should I trust his opinion about their merits? If you don't know how to read a patent, you're absolutely not qualified to make pronouncements like this: > None of them represent unique and new ideas at the time of the filing. I supect they all can be thrown out over prior art if Facebook takes the time and effort to do that. Also, even the articl…

Far more valuable than this contrarian response would be an analysis of the claims on their merits, since you allude to a knowledge of the subject. Care to share?

Re: Yahoo Crosses The Line

#130

Post by rdl » Tue, Mar 13, 2012, 3:34 PM UTC

pullo wrote: post #118

rdl wrote: post #108

Sounds like it is finally time to migrate off flickr. I wonder what the best options are -- self hosting of full res, plus FB Photos for social? Is Picasa worthwhile?

same sentiment here. I've been using y! mail for a decade. Y! 'wall streetish' behavior is a good incentive to sever all ties. I am also certain , lot of their portal traffic comes when users are redirected to the portal home page when users sign off their ymail accnts.

I feel slightly more disgusted than usual because I bought YHOO stock a while ago, because it was cheap (when factoring in Asian assets, etc.).

I had hopes the new CEO would try to turn Yahoo around. I don't believe in shitty display advertising long-term, but it could be viable for another 5 years. At least, I had confidence he could fire enough Directors and VPs to make Yahoo at least as innovative as eBay (also not a particular paragon in Silicon Valley), and I was hoping Yahoo's boardmembers would start actually acting in the interests of shareholders.

I guess I was wrong.