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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

#31

More detailed look at the patent: http://www.google.com/patents?id=K7MoAAAAEBAJ&printsec=a... If you want to check a unique serial number securely, either over the phone or net you are violating this patent. Seems a little broad.

You haven't even glanced at the claims, have you?

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

#32
Slightly off-topic.

Years ago when I was working at a small ISP in Columbia, SC I had lunch with Austin Meyer. He came in to upload the latest release of X-Plane to his FTP servers. We went across the street to get some shrimp and grits.

The man oozes genius. Over lunch he was rambling about some technique he discovered to render scenes at a much higher frame-rate. Something to do with culling and inlining a series of functions responsible for a very particular set of expensive transformations.

His almost hysterical, passionate, hyper, consuming personality made it a completely one-sided encounter. It was my pleasure to just sit and listen.

While we were walking out, I noticed the tail of his plaid shirt had come partially untucked. He had also missed 2 belt loops.

We're reading today about a man who legitimately doesn't have the cycles to spare for belt loops, let alone a patent battle. If for no other reason than to stop distracting people like Austin from doing what they do, we desperately need software patent reform.

Anyway. He probably thought I was a dope, but I still recall that lunch as one of my fondest memories while starting out in the industry.

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

#33

The moral of the story is don't develop software unless you have the resources to fight patent lawsuits. I haven't, so I don't.

I don't know if you're being sarcastic, but I've actually concluded the opposite. The patent system is so ridiculous now that it should be treated as such and developers should "infringe" as many patents as possible until the whole tyrannical system collapses on itself.

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

#34
It's interesting to note that the number of patent cases in East Texas quadrupled from 2003 to 2004, from 14 to 59 cases, then increased again to 236 in 2006 [1]. Is there an economic benefit for the citizens in that district?

[1]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_District_Court_fo...

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

#35

Google has completely jumped the shark and is now being controlled by mindless business drones that will drive the company into the ground in just a few years. For your consideration: They allow a patent troll to potentially set a legal precedent for what constitutes a big part of their app infrastructure. They probably figured that its cheaper to build around the patent and let this one developer eat shit. They are…

Not that I disagree with you but why do you think this was ever not the case? Other than the mindless part, of course, which I'll disagree with as Google is nothing if not mindfully opportunistic in their pursuit of us and the almighty buck they derive from it.

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

#36

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?

Nice idea. I wonder how technical sounding you'd have to get to push it through. "Issuing a legal claim over a telecommunications network"?

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

#37
post #18
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'm studying in Germany abroad and i have a u.s. green card. After reading so much crap about u.s. patent system, i'm really considering staying in Germany or immigrate to another country ( like Singapore ?? ) and start a business there. I know, one person doesn't make a difference furthermore i'm not a "very important super mega top ninja hipster talented programmer" and every county has it's own problems. The thing…

I believe German trademark law has been (ab)used, too, so don't think you're completely safe.

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

#38
post #33

The moral of the story is don't develop software unless you have the resources to fight patent lawsuits. I haven't, so I don't.

I don't know if you're being sarcastic, but I've actually concluded the opposite. The patent system is so ridiculous now that it should be treated as such and developers should "infringe" as many patents as possible until the whole tyrannical system collapses on itself.

As a software developer you're playing a round of roulette for every 10k you make. As noble as what you're saying sounds, nobody wants to be a casualty of war.

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

#39
"Just think about the logic here. The people complaining about the law suits here are complaining that a company is trying to protect it's own right to make a living from a technology that the patent office has verified as unique and novel. If you disagree then track the patent office and voice your problems with the patents as they are published."

Because the patent office verified it as "novel," that's the reason he isn't a patent troll. sigh The only way you can be a patent troll is to have the patent office verify a patent that you can sue people over!

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

#40
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if you're being sarcastic, but I've actually concluded the opposite. The patent system is so ridiculous now that it should be treated as such and developers should "infringe" as many patents as possible until the whole tyrannical system collapses on itself.

As a software developer you're playing a round of roulette for every 10k you make. As noble as what you're saying sounds, nobody wants to be a casualty of war.

It's not a casualty. It's a cause. What is there to lose? The laws are already imprisoning us. Might as well see it through.
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