Some tech zillionaires create private space programs… others create giant patent troll portfolios. Maybe the former can nuke the latter from orbit.
At this stage, it's the only way to be sure.
Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
51–58 of 58 posts
Re: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Paul Allen is taking advantage of the law. There is nothing really wrong with that. Why? If a law is wrong, unfair or immoral, taking advantage of it is not right, it is actually wrong. That being said, it is legal, but being legal does not always imply rightness.
Who says a law is wrong, unfair or immoral? Certainly not the legislators. Even if it is, taking advantage of the law might still not be unfair or immoral. If anything, it will highlight that the law needs to be changed.
What does it have to do with legislators? They don't define what's right, fair or moral, they just make laws.
Re: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
#53If anyone settles with him, that company becomes the enemy as well.
Re: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
#54Earlier quoted context omitted.
This isn't a random patent troll, this is Paul Allen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Allen , co-founder of Microsoft. If you're still feeling cynical, you can think of it this way: MS has enough dirt on Allen from his years there to bring him down if he threatens them :-)
I know who's involved. Your point about dirt is very valid - I didn't think of it because a patent troll crosses a line after which he doesn't value friends.
Not to mention Allen still probably owns a large amount of Microsoft stock, which would probably not respond well to major patent litigation, especially if MS lost and had to not only pay out damages but re-implement in a non-infringing way.
Re: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
#55Have zero in the bank: can't afford to be a patent troll.
Have a few million: can afford, might even make financial sense, assuming you are ok with it ethically.
Have a few billion: why be a patent troll? You have the world's biggest yacht -- do you need 1000 more?
Boggles my mind.
Re: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
#56Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do I think it's acceptable that adults are required to have some understanding of how the world around them works? Yes, I do.
That isn't what I asked. This has nothing to do with understanding the world around you, this has to do with understanding things that were written down on small slips of paper and filed away in boxes inside of a building in Virginia. The slips of paper (which have now been scanned into a computer; images of them are now available on the internet) are there to mark the occasion of the first person writing that partic…
> That isn't what I asked. This has nothing to do with understanding the world around you, this has to do with understanding things that were written down on small slips of paper and filed away in boxes inside of a building in Virginia.
Unfortunately, the Vogon Destructor Fleet was not moved by this appeal to reason.
Re: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you think this sort of thing (that programmers would have to concern themselves with reading patents beyond their description) is acceptable?
Lawyers are just programming in a language that looks like English.
And they inhabit bodies which just look human.
(With apologies to decent attorneys everywhere. Joke too good to pass up.)
Re: Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen tries again with patent megasuit
#58The patent system needs an enema. Most of these are so broad it's like patenting water. Apple recently patented the 'slide to unlock' UI concept. If I'm not mistaken, the aliens in the Preditor movies had already established that as prior art and should probably go pay Apple's attorney's a visit.