Ask HN: Great idea, but loose/vague patents might exist

Re:Ask HN: Great idea, but loose/vague patents might exist by Skywing on Friday December 17, 2010 @12:58AM (#2015389)

Well, you've basically explained to us that you have an idea and are not sure if there are patents that cover the idea but have a friend who claims to have seen patents that do. You went and looked for them and found some that sound similar. The "hacker" in me would most likely have been coding this prior to even thinking about patents. What does a patent have to do with it if it doesn't even exist, yet?

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Re:Ask HN: Great idea, but loose/vague patents might exist by krainboltgreene on Friday December 17, 2010 @01:09AM (#2015412)

Wouldn't a patent I didn't know about later bite me in the ass down the road? You can be cautious and a hacker :)

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Re:Ask HN: Great idea, but loose/vague patents might exist by rhizome on Friday December 17, 2010 @03:14AM (#2015613)

You can also pay to license patents if it ever even comes up. :)

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Re:Ask HN: Great idea, but loose/vague patents might exist by krainboltgreene on Friday December 17, 2010 @11:17AM (#2016622)

I didn't know I could do that! This is why I come to HN :)

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Re:Ask HN: Great idea, but loose/vague patents might exist by imp on Friday December 17, 2010 @04:32PM (#2017887)

Well, that is one possible outcome if the patent holder agrees to it. You can't guarantee that they will grant you a license though.

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