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[Martin_1962]

There are loads, a lawyer invents a concept - very hazy - a catch all, but doesn't actually make an example or anything similar. Anyway someone genuinly develops something and sells it or offers to use.

The troll then tries to sue the real inventor/developer for breaking their patent.

Patents are a silly as 1 computer communicating to another, then trying to sue all the networking companies who have been doing it for years. Or someone tried to patent the internet.

When will they realise that culling patent trolls is cheaper than going to court or paying them off, and will have a better long term effect.

[shyboy]

I understood you can't patent just an idea.

[Kevin Wood]

The whole patent system is a bit of a joke, IMHO. Especially in the US. Well-meaning, of course, but I believe there should be a requirement for a patent holder to actually demonstrate something practical within a reasonable time frame for a patent to be upheld.

In most cases when inventing something, having the idea is one thing. Turning it into a viable product that works is quite another, and I believe if you've only managed the former, someone else should be free to try to achieve the latter.

Of course, the whole system is controlled by lawyers, not engineers, etc. so patent disputes are decided by litigation rather than peer review.

Kevin

[Ken T]

Yes, there's one company run by an ex Microsoft manager (surprise!) that has got enough capital together to buy up huge numbers of patents and are constantly on the prowl for any possible infringement. I think they have several big companies on board who get access to the portfolio for an annual fee, but wo betide anybody not in the group. This will be hell for any small company trying to invent anything, you would spend 1 month doing the inventing and 12 months checking for patent infrigement. I often wondered about getting a Coldfire processor and coupling up to a nice graphic display and knocking up some sort of OS, but you are sure to get somebody on the hunt for fees.

Ken

[Kevin Wood]

Oh, and the other thing, of course. How can you patent the "bleeding obvious"?

So many computer related patents fall into that category and I imagine the outdated buffoons who do the litigeous side don't realise they're talking about something as obvious as using paper to wipe your @rse!

Kevin

[CaptainZok]

Oh, and the other thing, of course. How can you patent the "bleeding obvious"?

So many computer related patents fall into that category and I imagine the outdated buffoons who do the litigeous side don't realise they're talking about something as obvious as using paper to wipe your @rse!

Kevin

Get in there Kevin, it's about time that bloody Andrex puppy paid for exploiting your ideas.

[Martin_1962]

Oh, and the other thing, of course. How can you patent the "bleeding obvious"?

So many computer related patents fall into that category and I imagine the outdated buffoons who do the litigeous side don't realise they're talking about something as obvious as using paper to wipe your @rse!

Kevin

That is why I suggested a cull was in order.

Every week you hear about another.

It is getting ridiculous in the US