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Re:RIP Google Reader by javajosh on Thursday March 25, 2021 @12:59PM (#26582647)
This is the VC cycle in a nutshell: venture capital does some PoC, business/tech R&D, and when it fails (usually does!) the lessons are still available to others.

It's no different even if the (defunct) startup has a patent: IP law doesn't really matter when the IP doesn't have any money behind it.

Re:RIP Google Reader by londons_explore on Thursday March 25, 2021 @01:35PM (#26583090)
> It's no different even if the (defunct) startup has a patent

Not true - VC's are scared of giving money to anything that directly infringes a patent. If the company ever does wildly well, you can be sure whoever bought that patent for cents will be trying to collect millions...

Re:RIP Google Reader by javajosh on Thursday March 25, 2021 @05:54PM (#26585943)
I don't think VC's care about patents, they care about risk. A patent without any money behind it isn't a risk. A company that isn't making money to steal also isn't at risk. But if you have money, and the patent holder has money, then let the legal fireworks begin, and as a happy side-effect, the patent attorneys get to pay for their kids' college, and maybe an investment property or two.
Re:RIP Google Reader by thayne on Thursday March 25, 2021 @01:40PM (#26583137)
> IP law doesn't really matter when the IP doesn't have any money behind it.

But that IP could end up owned by a patent troll that does have the money to enforce it in court, or at least threaten to do so.

Re:RIP Google Reader by adfm on Thursday March 25, 2021 @02:39PM (#26583776)
Vine lives in a glass jar on the mantlepiece.
Re:RIP Google Reader by javajosh on Thursday March 25, 2021 @03:47PM (#26584549)
What a curious comment - care to elaborate? (I'm thinking a USB drive with Vine's source code is actually on your mantelpiece?)
Re:RIP Google Reader by adfm on Sunday April 04, 2021 @05:24PM (#26692983)
It has to do with milkshakes.

Here’s a video for context:

https://youtu.be/GX-9wXFQRgA