Explaining the patent war!

[viking60]

Many people think that patenting software is complicated - but it is realy easy:

Now in Europe they cannot claim software patents so Apple has claimed a hardware patent against Samsung (Yes it looks to much . like an iphone).
So you still think it is complicated? I'll make it even easier for you:

You still do'nt get it you say?

Do they have time to invent and develope anything these days?

What? Do you still think it is complicated?
Really it is not:
Microsoft started it, and Might even regret it by now because the world domination they set out to achive has since become so obsolete. The company is bypassed by Apple, and Google will sprint passed them too.
This shows that the latter two developed and created somewhat longer while MS was becoming a law firm.
These days they all are law firms and no minor company can program anything without beeing sued or bought by one of the big ones - well not if it is succesfull!

In short; they all think they have a patent on succes
If you program anything that is successfull you might just as well give it away to MS, Apple or Google. Yup they sure know how to patent mathematical algorithms.
Do I need to tell you that the success and money are in Mobile Phones these days?

[R_Head]

That is a very intricate Lawyer's Heaven.
Never solve anything, litigate forever and let someone else pick up the tab.

All lawyers shall be burn in hell...

[viking60]

Hmm I am not sure you are allowed to say "burn in hell". I think it is patented by MS
This video does really explain it very good:
http://patentabsurdity.com/watch.html

[dedanna1029]

No, "burn in hell" was patented by the Hell's Angels.

[viking60]

Yes but you see Hells Angels are facing a law suit from the Catholic Church who claim to have the patent on both "Hell" and "Angel". Now the Catholic Church use the self developed "Choirboy" software and had to sell the patents to Microsoft to avoid a lawsuit (because it was successfull and therefore MS property).
So MS hold those patents now.
Hells Angels claim that they have a unique combination here and in any case they had never heard about "Hell" or "Angel" before they came up with it.

They are negotiating about a settlement with MS (who clearly has a patent on "Bandidos" ) for a law suit on their own......
Really it is not complicated - and makes perfect sense........

[dedanna1029]

Wish we had a "Like" button for posts here. Like FB does, only for our forum only. That would be cool, wouldn't it? I'd like that one in a heartbeat lol.

[viking60]

In principle this is a very good explaination:

[dedanna1029]

http://storyofstuff.org/citizensunited/

http://storyofstuff.com/capandtrade/

[dedanna1029]

Our own DiBosco had this posted on his Facebook wall. Good find, IMO.

All patents are theft

[viking60]

Yup ain't that the truth

[davekorpi]

I know.. So if YOU want to file a patent and jump in on the Frey check out the second video on this blog!
http://www.filepatentapplications.com/blog/
If that clicks your clock check out the Provisional Patent Video Course here:
http://provisionalpatentvideo.com/

The idea of a provisional patent are that an individual inventor can compete with the "Apples" of the world and play the game.
Heck, two CalTech students filed a provisional patent application on what we know as Google Street View BEFORE Google came out with their version.

Now, those two dudes are in for raking in zillions in royalties!

[viking60]

First of all welcome
And second.
Patents in general are just fine and represent a protection for your unique innovation. We want and need innovation so that is clearly worthy of protection.
This works fine in most industries and I have not seen anybody trying to copy the Coca Cola bottle design or the Mercedes Benz star. Or even some patented BMW engine systems. But there is a reason that Software patents are not accepted in Europe.
They do not represent innovation and they are not unique in the sense that the patent system was constructed for.
We are talking about languages here and you need to use a language to be able to speak. The patent system is used to deny others this "freedom of speech" because somebody has used some of the words before. And in most cases that somebody is standing n the shoulders of giants who have made it possible to design the software in the first place.

Suddenly someone way down the chain of development decides that he should patent the way he has put the words together.
The words Software world and best did all exist already. But the worlds best software is his unique construction that he wants a patent for.
That does not compute - not to me, and not to most people. Because it is a restriction to using the language - making programming impossible.

And since Pascal and his fellow mathematicians did NOT patent their languages. It is to late to leach on them way down the chain.

In short; there is no true invention behind those patents!

But I totally agree with you that it is a game! I am not so sure the average Joe can make zillions on it anymore though. The big players can accuse you of something and drag you through court until you are broke and cannot afford to stand up for your innovation - so you better give it to them for a sum they are willing to pay - right away.
Regarding Street view it is a giant intrusion on your privacy anyway - so it is illegal in its current form in countries that take their privacy seriously - like Germany.