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Re:Ask HN: HELP Patent troll cruising my industry. What to do? by micks56 on Friday January 09, 2009 @09:09PM (#427476)
You need a lawyer.

You have knowledge of an existing patent and knowledge that you appear to be infringing.

Again, you need a lawyer. Get an IP attorney.

Re:Ask HN: HELP Patent troll cruising my industry. What to do? by tedjedbed on Friday January 09, 2009 @09:30PM (#427487)
Can you (or anyone here) recommend a good IP attorney?

"and knowledge that you appear to be infringing"

This is what I'm trying to wrap my head around. What defines "infringing"? The patent abstract covers some features that we do, but also some that we don't.

How much overlap is required before it's considered infringement?

Re:Ask HN: HELP Patent troll cruising my industry. What to do? by micks56 on Friday January 09, 2009 @09:41PM (#427503)
Where are you located? It is best to get an attorney near you. I am in Massachusetts.

Whether you are infringing depends on how the patent claims are drafted. That I cannot tell you because I can't give legal advice.

If you want to learn for yourself before going to a patent attorney, pick up a law school textbook and start reading. The law isn't hard. You just need to understand how the courts have interpreted the Patent Act.

I used this one in law school (used copy will be fine): http://www.amazon.com/Intellectual-Property-Trademark-Copyri...

Get the supplement, too (supplement gives you the recent updates to the law): http://www.amazon.com/Intellectual-Property-Materials-Supple...

Re:Ask HN: HELP Patent troll cruising my industry. What to do? by tedjedbed on Friday January 09, 2009 @09:47PM (#427510)
I'm in the Northwest
Re:Ask HN: HELP Patent troll cruising my industry. What to do? by olefoo on Saturday January 10, 2009 @02:22PM (#428217)
http://klarquist.com/home.aspx

They are in Portland, they are IP experts.

Re:Ask HN: HELP Patent troll cruising my industry. What to do? by micks56 on Friday January 09, 2009 @09:55PM (#427517)
I don't know anyone out there.

Your best bet is to ask around at the Chamber of Commerce or other business meetups near you.

Re:Ask HN: HELP Patent troll cruising my industry. What to do? by trapper on Saturday January 10, 2009 @05:12AM (#427855)
IANAL but to my knowledge (multiple patents under my belt) if the patent covers A,B,C and you only implement A,B then you are fine. It depends how they have setup their claims though - some may be optional.