Abolish The Patent, Vanquish The Troll • Hacker News Board

Re: Abolish The Patent, Vanquish The Troll

#141

Post by zabramow » Sun, Apr 14, 2013, 9:57 PM UTC

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #116

larrys wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So let me see if I understand your point. You are saying "they aren't using it so therefore we should be able to use it" and are somehow comparing that to what patent trolls do? Further you are saying that someone who holds a domain name (or any property) should have to satisfy a requirement of "use" of that property or domain name? And if not they should sell it to you for a price that you find acceptable or maybe j…

The mistake is in thinking that domain names should be property. They're not property, they're address space. Imagine if trademarks worked this way -- right now to get a trademark you have to actually use it (or certify that you intend to use it), you can't just squat on a thousand different names and hope somebody is eventually willing to pay you for one of them. And the solution should be the same. You can't sell a…

Completely agree AM. I would have no problem if the person were using our domain, but they're not. They're squatting because they realize that someone ELSE will want the name. They have accomplished nothing from an innovation point of view, they've only seen some stroke of potential innovation -- which is why I compare it to a patent troll. Patent trolls don't actually innovate, and neither do people who buys what they know will ultimately be a catchy domain.

Re: Abolish The Patent, Vanquish The Troll

#142

Post by 5hredder » Mon, Apr 15, 2013, 3:31 PM UTC

There's an unsettling trend in startups today on IP protection. A lot of incubators/accelerators seem to think that having a protectable IP = innovation.

By placing more focus on patents rather than on real innovation, we are far from acting as a catalyst to promote innovation in developing countries like India. Intellectual monopolies in the developed world prohibit SMEs in developing countries from growing to the point where they are able to compete in global markets with the western IP heavyweights. It is imperative that developing countries like India and China place careful thought before committing to restrictive FTAs that are specifically designed to keep them at a lower level of technological development.

Re: Abolish The Patent, Vanquish The Troll

#143

Post by jonathanwallace » Mon, Apr 15, 2013, 6:59 PM UTC

larrys wrote: post #12

jonathanwallace wrote: post #4

Nothing makes me want to become a rackspace customer more than posts like this. I adore integrity.

I'm also a RS customer but how do you see this as "integrity" as opposed to a regular business decision done with the intent to prevent future problems? (Noting also that there is the PR value of spending money this way as your comment proves!)

It may be both. And since Rackspace is loudly publicizing that their actions are based on their beliefs, if they were to ever act contrary to their established brand, they'd lose even more than if they were to do nothing at all.