Re:Startup Lessons
by netcan on Monday November 17, 2008 @02:43AM
(#366678)
Certainly the trolls go too far sometimes, but on the whole itβs a respectable business model, and one that I think encourages, rather than stifles, technological progress.
I think this is sort of missing the point. Proper trolls make their money by stopping the application of that invention or by significantly raising the cost of applying it.
If the patent is owned by a troll it is more likely that anyone applying it will get sued, rightly or wrongly. In fact, it is almost always wrongly in a sense because if the patent troll didn't exist, noone would be sueing.
So with one hand they provide some cash to inventors. With the other they take more off the application developers. The difference is probably huge & is split between profits & legal bills on both sides.
I think this is sort of missing the point. Proper trolls make their money by stopping the application of that invention or by significantly raising the cost of applying it.
If the patent is owned by a troll it is more likely that anyone applying it will get sued, rightly or wrongly. In fact, it is almost always wrongly in a sense because if the patent troll didn't exist, noone would be sueing.
So with one hand they provide some cash to inventors. With the other they take more off the application developers. The difference is probably huge & is split between profits & legal bills on both sides.
It's like a tax on innovation.