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Creator Of The X-Plane Flight Simulator Seeks Help Fighting A Patent Troll

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Re: Creator Of The X-Plane Flight Simulator Seeks Help Fighting A Patent Troll

#4

Post by thesagan »

Permit wrote: post #2

I honestly don't even know what to say when these things come up nowadays. It just seems like the bullshit won't end. I can't think of any options that even exist to fix this broken patent system.

It's as if some sort of patent "tragedy" would need to happen, such as an extremely popular application used by multiple voting blocs be shut down, an application whose absence would set off a larger popular response. However, the owner of such an application would have to somehow be vulnerable, and I'm not sure what's out there that would match this criteria. Certainly not a Google or Microsoft, to state the obvious.

Re: Creator Of The X-Plane Flight Simulator Seeks Help Fighting A Patent Troll

#5

Post by lucajona »

Permit wrote: post #2

I honestly don't even know what to say when these things come up nowadays. It just seems like the bullshit won't end. I can't think of any options that even exist to fix this broken patent system.

I understand your feeling of helplessness, but supporting the people that stand up and fight against these patent trolls seems like a good place to start.

Signing the petition costs nothing, and there's a chance that it could have a real and lasting impact on the patent system.

Donating to Austin Meyer's legal defence fund is much cheaper—both financially and emotionally—than having to defend against a patent troll yourself at some stage in the future.

Re: Creator Of The X-Plane Flight Simulator Seeks Help Fighting A Patent Troll

#6

Post by kevingadd »

Maybe if people like Ric Richardson see consequences for being a part of the patent trolling machine, they'll be less likely to do it again in the future. It's hilarious to me that he wants to simultaneously claim credit for 'inventing' this patent and founding the company responsible for this patent trolling while avoiding any of the responsibility for the damage the company creates.

"Oh, I'm not a principle at the company anymore" yeah, sure. If you're really not involved, why are you calling their victims thieves in news articles? I bet you sold all your shares, right?

Re: Creator Of The X-Plane Flight Simulator Seeks Help Fighting A Patent Troll

#8

Post by kevingadd »

christiangenco wrote: post #7

What if someone could get a patent on "a method of starting a business whose sole purpose is acquiring many patents and then suing large companies"? Could they destroy all patent trolls?

You'd spend more money suing the patent troll organizations than you'd ever recover, because they could just close up shop and move on, being non-practicing entities with no real assets or holdings.

Re: Creator Of The X-Plane Flight Simulator Seeks Help Fighting A Patent Troll

#9

Post by melling »

lucajona wrote: post #5
Permit wrote: post #2

I honestly don't even know what to say when these things come up nowadays. It just seems like the bullshit won't end. I can't think of any options that even exist to fix this broken patent system.

I understand your feeling of helplessness, but supporting the people that stand up and fight against these patent trolls seems like a good place to start. Signing the petition costs nothing, and there's a chance that it could have a real and lasting impact on the patent system. Donating to Austin Meyer's legal defence fund is much cheaper—both financially and emotionally—than having to defend against a patent troll y…

I didn't see a link to donate. Wouldn't it be better for the FSF to create a generic fund that agressively went after these trolls? I'd give a couple hundred dollars a year.
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