Earlier quoted context omitted.
To be fair, patents were a far less ugly beast back then. They were still stupid, but not the existential threat they pose today.
Patents were a brutal business weapon seven years ago. Indeed they have been for more than a century. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Gray_and_Alexander_Bell_... ] However, the claim that they have recently become an existential threat is dubious, in my opinion. Yes, there are lots of stories in the techpress about industry titans battering each with patents and partisan ranting which often accompanies it. What…
I work at a startup whose founder was forced to shutter a previous startup with more promise (ever heard of Modista?) because they were sued by iLike for a patent that had clear prior art. The suit came in the midst of a funding round and basically killed the company as it was just gaining steam. I anticipate that there are numerous similar stories that you've never heard... People don't exactly like to talk about succumbing to bullying.