> Why is someone abiding to the patent law a "troll"? What's wrong with suing 397 companies if (i) you have a valid patent (ii) the law says that those companies violate your patent?
The lawyers prefer to call them "NPEs" (Non-Practicing Entities). Part (i) has been called into question by prior art. Part (ii) has yet to be determined and may never be in this case.
In any event, even were those true, with respect to Non-Practicing Entities, even if their actions are legal, there are serious questions over whether and how those actions "promote the progress of Science and Useful Arts" as per their Constitutional mandate. I'm sorry if that's a US-centric justification, but this is a case involving US-based companies in a US court, so it's applicable. Software simply isn't very patentable subject matter outside the US, to my knowledge, though there are a lot of laws out there and I'm sure I don't know the half of them.
> If you don't like how the patent system works lobby your government to change the patent laws, but don't blame the companies who utilize those laws to make money.
I have advocated against them to the best of my ability, but I don't see why I shouldn't call out people who inhibit progress in pursuit of money.
Would we really be better off if science had been retarded more? The average person in the US is better off than ancient kings. For all their gold, they couldn't buy the things we take for granted. And yet I fear there are people yet today who would trade away an even better future for thirty pieces of silver.
The lawyers prefer to call them "NPEs" (Non-Practicing Entities). Part (i) has been called into question by prior art. Part (ii) has yet to be determined and may never be in this case.
In any event, even were those true, with respect to Non-Practicing Entities, even if their actions are legal, there are serious questions over whether and how those actions "promote the progress of Science and Useful Arts" as per their Constitutional mandate. I'm sorry if that's a US-centric justification, but this is a case involving US-based companies in a US court, so it's applicable. Software simply isn't very patentable subject matter outside the US, to my knowledge, though there are a lot of laws out there and I'm sure I don't know the half of them.
> If you don't like how the patent system works lobby your government to change the patent laws, but don't blame the companies who utilize those laws to make money.
I have advocated against them to the best of my ability, but I don't see why I shouldn't call out people who inhibit progress in pursuit of money.
Would we really be better off if science had been retarded more? The average person in the US is better off than ancient kings. For all their gold, they couldn't buy the things we take for granted. And yet I fear there are people yet today who would trade away an even better future for thirty pieces of silver.