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A comment on The last patent on AC-3 (Dolby Digital) expires at midnight. Parent comment

Re:The last patent on AC-3 (Dolby Digital) expires at midnight by TrinaryWorksToo on Monday March 20, 2017 @06:50AM (#13913071)
I was advised never to read patents when inventing something. What's so useful about a system that's supposed to help people innovate when it's so questionable to use that lawyers are advising against it?
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Re:The last patent on AC-3 (Dolby Digital) expires at midnight by mark-r on Monday March 20, 2017 @02:55PM (#13916688)
Lawyers advise against it because damages go way up if the patent owner can show you knew about the infringing patent. A very perverse outcome.
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Re:The last patent on AC-3 (Dolby Digital) expires at midnight by TrinaryWorksToo on Monday March 20, 2017 @04:55PM (#13917585)
So doesn't that ultimately sabotage the idea that it brings information to the masses faster, if no one can act upon it?
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