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How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

pandodaily.com

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Re: How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

#2
Besides generic software patents, the oddest one I've seen is being able to patent a color. Since Nike has the patent on the color "Maize", Adidas had to come up with a new color for Michigan athletics.

Also, I'm not sure how prevalent it is, but there may be an opportunity for a business of being the go to firm for fighting these trolls. Like the article said, being familiar with the companies and the process makes it easier, and if you could be the go-to firm for fighting them, especially since you would become more desirable the more often you fight the same groups.

Re: How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

#4
I think a tool is necessary to allow people who are threatened with litigation, but are not yet part of a lawsuit, to find each other. So, if some lawyer contacts me and tells me that I am infringing on patent X, and I should settle before trial, it would be awesome if there was a site where I could go and register (anonymously) that I am being threatened with litigation for infringement of patent X. The site would link me up with other people who are either already being sued, or threatened with a lawsuit for Patent X.

It's an idea that has been floating around in my head for a while now, but due to time limitations, I have yet to implement it. What do you guys think.

Re: How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

#5
post #4

I think a tool is necessary to allow people who are threatened with litigation, but are not yet part of a lawsuit, to find each other. So, if some lawyer contacts me and tells me that I am infringing on patent X, and I should settle before trial, it would be awesome if there was a site where I could go and register (anonymously) that I am being threatened with litigation for infringement of patent X. The site would l…

PlainSite helps you at least keep track of patent trolls and their litigation:

http://www.plainsite.org/tags/index.html?id=635

Re: How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

#6
post #4

I think a tool is necessary to allow people who are threatened with litigation, but are not yet part of a lawsuit, to find each other. So, if some lawyer contacts me and tells me that I am infringing on patent X, and I should settle before trial, it would be awesome if there was a site where I could go and register (anonymously) that I am being threatened with litigation for infringement of patent X. The site would l…

That is exactly what I thought after reading this article. Good idea. If some one can make the spec, I can get it done.

Re: How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

#7

Besides generic software patents, the oddest one I've seen is being able to patent a color. Since Nike has the patent on the color "Maize", Adidas had to come up with a new color for Michigan athletics. Also, I'm not sure how prevalent it is, but there may be an opportunity for a business of being the go to firm for fighting these trolls. Like the article said, being familiar with the companies and the process makes…

There is no such patent; no patent assigned to Nike contains the word "maize", and Google finds nothing to corroborate this story but an opinion piece in a Michigan newspaper about a rumored copyright being the reason the team changed its colors. Neither copyright nor patent can give ownership rights in a color.

Re: How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

#9

Besides generic software patents, the oddest one I've seen is being able to patent a color. Since Nike has the patent on the color "Maize", Adidas had to come up with a new color for Michigan athletics. Also, I'm not sure how prevalent it is, but there may be an opportunity for a business of being the go to firm for fighting these trolls. Like the article said, being familiar with the companies and the process makes…

There is no such patent; no patent assigned to Nike contains the word "maize", and Google finds nothing to corroborate this story but an opinion piece in a Michigan newspaper about a rumored copyright being the reason the team changed its colors. Neither copyright nor patent can give ownership rights in a color.

> Neither copyright nor patent can give ownership rights in a color.

A color can be a trademark: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colour_trademark

Re: How to slaughter a patent troll in 5 steps

#10

Besides generic software patents, the oddest one I've seen is being able to patent a color. Since Nike has the patent on the color "Maize", Adidas had to come up with a new color for Michigan athletics. Also, I'm not sure how prevalent it is, but there may be an opportunity for a business of being the go to firm for fighting these trolls. Like the article said, being familiar with the companies and the process makes…

There is no such patent; no patent assigned to Nike contains the word "maize", and Google finds nothing to corroborate this story but an opinion piece in a Michigan newspaper about a rumored copyright being the reason the team changed its colors. Neither copyright nor patent can give ownership rights in a color.

Neither copyright nor patent can give ownership rights in a color.

Under EU law one can register a color as a trademark, provided it's a distinguishing mark. I think that's fair. Deutsche Telekom have been using magenta on their outlets ever since they started, people think "Magenta" whenever the name is mentioned, and I guess even you would stop a second if another phone company painted their outlets that color.

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