Mercurial > thoughts

comparison org/patents.org @ 26:79b15c87901f

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minor change.
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:23:45 +0000
parents 1693e1c57f99
children 0a8b2984af7d
comparison
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25:1693e1c57f99 26:79b15c87901f
147 How might this hypothetical company (which is basically a noble 147 How might this hypothetical company (which is basically a noble
148 patent trolling company) gain control of patents? They could use the 148 patent trolling company) gain control of patents? They could use the
149 normal patent troll methods of buying bulk patents from companies 149 normal patent troll methods of buying bulk patents from companies
150 that are going out of business. However, they could also gather 150 that are going out of business. However, they could also gather
151 patents from individuals and companies who believe that the patent 151 patents from individuals and companies who believe that the patent
152 system is harmful to innovation, and simply donate their patents to 152 system is harmful to innovation -- they would simply donate their
153 the cause. 153 patents to the cause.
154 154
155 How could this company get enough money to fight these legal 155 How could this company get enough money to fight these legal
156 battles? Perhaps there could be a possibility of settling for money 156 battles? Perhaps there could be a possibility of settling for money
157 and requiring the company to make their relevant patents merely 157 and requiring the company to make their relevant patents merely
158 neutral instead of positive. Then, the positive patent pledge could 158 neutral instead of positive. Then, the positive patent pledge could
167 see market, as is our right under patent law. 167 see market, as is our right under patent law.
168 168
169 The only exception is if the product is open (all code/methods of 169 The only exception is if the product is open (all code/methods of
170 construction is made publicly available under an open license), and 170 construction is made publicly available under an open license), and
171 the entity makes this same pledge for any patents relating to the 171 the entity makes this same pledge for any patents relating to the
172 product, the entity can take the Google 'neutral patent pledge' 172 product. The entity can take the Google 'neutral patent pledge'
173 instead of this pledge if they are a 'special exception'. 173 instead of this pledge if they are a 'special exception'.
174 #+end_quote 174 #+end_quote
175 175
176 The only way for a company to become a special exception would be 176 The only way for a company to become a special exception would be
177 for them to contribute monetarily to this hypothetical company. 177 for them to contribute monetarily to this hypothetical company.