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Who knew this could be so lucrative? This is like camping a building in an FPS game, only the building is a patent and the other players are other companies that actually make shit rather than say they own the oxygen we breathe or something. Maybe while I'm at it, I'll file a patent for "video game where a princess is rescued."
You disappoint me, Jim. I was sure you'd make a big deal of the fact they called Minecraft "Mindcraft" in their suit!
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-23-software-patent-troll-sues-mojang-over-android-version-of-minecraft
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-23-software-patent-troll-sues-mojang-over-android-version-of-minecraft
Patents like copyrights really need reform. Imagine if people sued over similar looking anime characters in Japan. Or if you sued anyone who makes a fan fiction. Then there are the fanart commissions on deviantart.
Should the owners of Starship Troopers sue the Alien franchise, Halo, Crysis, ect over mobile powered suits?
Everything is built on something that came before. Tech even more so.
Should the owners of Starship Troopers sue the Alien franchise, Halo, Crysis, ect over mobile powered suits?
Everything is built on something that came before. Tech even more so.
I've got this idea whereby you place your buttocks on the toilet to defecate, think I might patent it then sue people that use it...
That's how this patent thing works? Right?
That's how this patent thing works? Right?
@CaimDark: I'm actually surprised he didn't bring it up at all. He did that when Keith Vaz tried to get "Call of Duty [Modern Warfare] 3" banned. But then again, politicians are expected to have their shit straightened out faster than companies - especially a patent troll - are.
Without even looking to check, I'm going to guess right away that the filing was done in the Eastern district of Texas.
i so hope this creates a clusterfck that pits the entire games industry against Uniloc. the world could do without people like that.
Considering we're talking about Uniloc, this video feels fitting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9gN2hdybFY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9gN2hdybFY
@ Nick
I'd have to look it up again, but I understand that there are a lot of vacant offices there, but are registered addresses. Some companies have found it in their best interest to maintain an "office" there to allow basis for filing their patent and copyright claims in that court district, and it has long been an open secret that such lawsuits typically win, even sometimes on rather poor basis.
It's clear that somebody's on the take, but in spite of all obviousness, there's no concrete evidence to back up any claims. It's amazing, too, given how high-profile some cases can be, and the size of judgments awarded at times. If you have deep enough pockets to make the initial plunge into it and make the right calls on which patents to "enforce," it apparently really can be good business, albeit one in which you clearly are the asshole holding up progress by imposing an "innovation tax" on anyone else that actually does try to make something better.
And yup, this one hits every classic hallmark of the patent troll. PDF filing is in the article linked, and it's in the wonderful Eastern district of Texas, all right.
The patent system's problem is how poorly regulated it really is, and the fact that patents often get granted where they are similarly worded to another, and it basically functions as a "flag-planting" service such as in the old world notion of another nation showing up on the shores and claiming the land as their nation's land, even if it turns out there's someone already there and has been living on the land.
Just looking at the number of patent suits in the tablet and cell phone markets is absurd, every company has another in court over a broadly-worded enough patent, and recently Google just purchased Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, and a lot of the focus was on it apparently being more about acquiring them for their patent portfolio above all. These days, if companies aren't buying patents or looking for violations to file suit over, they're using them as a fortifier. Shitty thing is, it stifles innovation all around, because any time someone does make a new product, there's almost immediately a patent suit filed over it. It's almost not even worth trying to create anything new or better in any tech-related market because there's just too many vultures given too much advantage circling overhead at any time.
I'd have to look it up again, but I understand that there are a lot of vacant offices there, but are registered addresses. Some companies have found it in their best interest to maintain an "office" there to allow basis for filing their patent and copyright claims in that court district, and it has long been an open secret that such lawsuits typically win, even sometimes on rather poor basis.
It's clear that somebody's on the take, but in spite of all obviousness, there's no concrete evidence to back up any claims. It's amazing, too, given how high-profile some cases can be, and the size of judgments awarded at times. If you have deep enough pockets to make the initial plunge into it and make the right calls on which patents to "enforce," it apparently really can be good business, albeit one in which you clearly are the asshole holding up progress by imposing an "innovation tax" on anyone else that actually does try to make something better.
And yup, this one hits every classic hallmark of the patent troll. PDF filing is in the article linked, and it's in the wonderful Eastern district of Texas, all right.
The patent system's problem is how poorly regulated it really is, and the fact that patents often get granted where they are similarly worded to another, and it basically functions as a "flag-planting" service such as in the old world notion of another nation showing up on the shores and claiming the land as their nation's land, even if it turns out there's someone already there and has been living on the land.
Just looking at the number of patent suits in the tablet and cell phone markets is absurd, every company has another in court over a broadly-worded enough patent, and recently Google just purchased Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, and a lot of the focus was on it apparently being more about acquiring them for their patent portfolio above all. These days, if companies aren't buying patents or looking for violations to file suit over, they're using them as a fortifier. Shitty thing is, it stifles innovation all around, because any time someone does make a new product, there's almost immediately a patent suit filed over it. It's almost not even worth trying to create anything new or better in any tech-related market because there's just too many vultures given too much advantage circling overhead at any time.
That header image couldn't be more appropriate. Vulture parasite fucks like that Langdell fuck are a cancer on the industry, and on creativity in general. I wish them swift but painful death.
one of the problems of patent protection. sigh. Similar things happen in the copy right sector of laws, but reversed, i.e. already executed artwork is used by someone executing their own idea, perhaps different from the orignal artwork.
Holy shit deowns, you just totally ruined my day, thanks.
Not your fault, mind you, it's just that every time I learn anew how terrible and awful and stupid people have the potential to be, I feel this terrible sinking feeling in the put of my stomach.
Not your fault, mind you, it's just that every time I learn anew how terrible and awful and stupid people have the potential to be, I feel this terrible sinking feeling in the put of my stomach.
"it's suing over what sounds like most modern copy protection."
Yeah, I read that and before I read the next sentence, I said "DRM?"
"Oh, and they referred to Minecraft as "Mindcraft" because they're ludicrous douches."
Oh, Mindcraft.. Love that game! (snicker)
Part of me wishes they'd get this thrown out simply because they can't get the names of the games right (or they're lawyers can't, which is even funnier)
"Unfortunately for them, they’re suing us over a software patent," Tweeted the studio founder. "If needed, I will throw piles of money at making sure they don’t get a cent."
While I get the idea of these suits is to get money for basically doing nothing, doesn't throwing money -probably more then a settlement- kinda work the same way? Money being lost?
I get the point is that giving these guys a settlement would be feeding the troll, but idk.. I kinda feel they'd almost be equally served by having a long expensive battle (unless of course, they cave to the same tactic).
"I understand why patents exist, but I think the rules governing them need a major overhaul."
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.. If this isn't going to grow with the rest of business that surrounds it, then I really don't know where we're going to be even a decade from now, because of it.
"It's disgustingly parasitic"
Sadly, most everything that makes our world "great" these days, is.
Yeah, I read that and before I read the next sentence, I said "DRM?"
"Oh, and they referred to Minecraft as "Mindcraft" because they're ludicrous douches."
Oh, Mindcraft.. Love that game! (snicker)
Part of me wishes they'd get this thrown out simply because they can't get the names of the games right (or they're lawyers can't, which is even funnier)
"Unfortunately for them, they’re suing us over a software patent," Tweeted the studio founder. "If needed, I will throw piles of money at making sure they don’t get a cent."
While I get the idea of these suits is to get money for basically doing nothing, doesn't throwing money -probably more then a settlement- kinda work the same way? Money being lost?
I get the point is that giving these guys a settlement would be feeding the troll, but idk.. I kinda feel they'd almost be equally served by having a long expensive battle (unless of course, they cave to the same tactic).
"I understand why patents exist, but I think the rules governing them need a major overhaul."
Yeah, I couldn't agree more.. If this isn't going to grow with the rest of business that surrounds it, then I really don't know where we're going to be even a decade from now, because of it.
"It's disgustingly parasitic"
Sadly, most everything that makes our world "great" these days, is.
Patents are great for physical inventions but they're absolutely CANCEROUS to software. Hardware stays relevant for a long time but software changes monthly and to protect something like computer software for YEARS just so someone can sit on it is disastrous to the growth of technology.
But as long as big businesses are happy and people make money no one will touch copyright laws.
But as long as big businesses are happy and people make money no one will touch copyright laws.
Patent filing courts estimated a total loss of 20 billion cash in US last year, which is just the direct loss of money. Just shows how broken the patent system is as people said above.
All, and I mean ALL, patents do is hold back progress so some asshole can get rich for being born at the right time.
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