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Discussion on:
The Low Point--a view from the Valley: The innovation game

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Where you are completely wrong.
No_Ax_to_Grind 22nd Oct 2007
1. Patent investors are just that. Someone wants to sell their patent and these people provide a service meeting that need. Yes, like any investor they expect to make a return on their investment. Is that something your business school forgot to teach you? Is Google now a non-profit? Tell us, how can you work for a company so disgusting that its filing for SOFTWARE PATENTS every day? Are you that big a horror (spelled to get around the censor)that you sell out to anyone offering you a salary? You see when you come here to rant about patents on one hand but use the other to cash a paycheck paid for by using patents your "position" seems hypocritical at best.

2. Microsoft didn't do much with patents for decades, until they stated getting sued over them and they woke up and decided they had no choice but to build an arsenal of patents to fight back with. By the way, they also learned that to "compete" they also had to start making campaign contributions. Sad as that is, and even though Bill Gates hated it, they had no choice.

3. Have you had your head in the sand the last two years? I ask because I have been saying (repeatedly) that it would not be MS or anyone else with patents that would file the suit and start a patent war. I have said all along it would be an individual or a patent holding company that nothing to fear from retaliation. What part of that escaped you all this time? Let me ask you this, do you now assume it was me that convinced this company to file suit? Do you think in some mysterious way its my fault? I mean after all, like Ballmer I have been saying it loud and clear for a very long time.

4. And finally the bullshat about patents stopping innovation. Pure bull, they stop one person from copying another person's work. nothing more. If you have an ORIGINAL idea there is NOTHING stopping you from using it and selling/giving it away. The only thing you are not allowed to do is use someone else's patented ideas.

5. In closing, I agree fully that the current patent system needs overhauled (and MS is leading the charge to get it done) and major changes are needed. In fact I have made several suggestions in this very forum on how to do it and maintain the "fairness" so many seek. Perhaps one day you will open your eyes and ears (like my saying this suit was coming) and not reject an idea simply because I am not an open source zealot and will never worship at Stallman's feet. Believe it or not, very often the best ideas come from your adversary, if your listening that is...
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