comparison org/patents.org @ 17:63a9cd3edcc0

review.
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:05:13 +0000
parents d5b95ca78266
children fe9e92bbafbc
comparison
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16:d5b95ca78266 17:63a9cd3edcc0
91 not produce any goods or services; their entire business model is 91 not produce any goods or services; their entire business model is
92 suing people. Most patent lawsuits (more than 50%) are initiated by 92 suing people. Most patent lawsuits (more than 50%) are initiated by
93 patent trolls. 93 patent trolls.
94 94
95 ** Patents are arranged in a dependency network 95 ** Patents are arranged in a dependency network
96 96 Just because you have a patent on your invention doesn't mean you
97 can actually distribute that invention. Normally, your invention
98 will be affected by other patents, which themselves are affected by
99 other patents. You can only distribute your invention if you
100 negoitate with the owners of all these dependent patents.
101
102 An example: If I own the patent for table tops and you own the
103 patent for table legs, and you and I don't get along too well, then
104 the world will be without tables for 17 years.
97 105
98 * Google has created "neutral" patents via a pledge which attaches conditions to its patents. 106 * Google has created "neutral" patents via a pledge which attaches conditions to its patents.
99 Google has a pledge at 107 Google has a pledge at
100 http://www.google.com/patents/opnpledge/pledge/ that says that for 108 http://www.google.com/patents/opnpledge/pledge/ that says that for
101 certain specified patents "we pledge not to sue any user, 109 certain specified patents "we pledge not to sue any user,
163 instead of this pledge if they are a 'special exception'. 171 instead of this pledge if they are a 'special exception'.
164 #+end_quote 172 #+end_quote
165 173
166 The only way for a company to become a special exception would be 174 The only way for a company to become a special exception would be
167 for them to contribute monetairly to this hypothetical company. 175 for them to contribute monetairly to this hypothetical company.
168
169