Almost as much as the $1B Apple was originally supposed to win from Samsung for ...

rootusrootus · on Feb 4, 2016

What would you do if you were Apple? Would VirnetX have refused to go after them just because Apple had not gone after Samsung for "equally silly" patents?

Seems like what you really want to say is "don't hate the player, hate the game."

shawabawa3 · on Feb 4, 2016

> Seems like what you really want to say is "don't hate the player, hate the game."

More like, "Hate the game, and hate the player for playing it"

Instead of everyone joining in the patent suing racket, these big players should be lobbying for the laws to be changed

happyopossum · on Feb 4, 2016

>Instead of everyone joining in the patent suing racket, these big players should be lobbying for the laws to be changed

Except you have to do both - if you ignore the racket you are much more exposed to lawsuits. Patents are used defensively between companies like Apple and Samsung, and if you give up that defense while trying to change the laws you are severely exposed. Tough balancing act..

The flip side of it is that I don't think we're likely to see these laws change until the current 2 party corrupt system is torn apart. Congress is completely bought and sold on both sides of the aisle and their owners like the current system (more laws = more lawsuits = more $$ for lawyers).

linkregister · on Feb 4, 2016

> Except you have to do both - if you ignore the racket you are much more exposed to lawsuits

Check this out: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/06/defensive-patent-licen...

Google and Facebook are playing as well: https://code.facebook.com/posts/1639473982937255/updating-ou..., https://www.google.com/patents/licensing/dpl/non-sticky/

It should be mentioned that both of the above corporations grant this patent license for use and modification of the software they have open sourced.

zanny · on Feb 4, 2016

I believe Google has made numerous pledges not to aggressively attack others with their parents the way Apple and trolls are doing it.

I think Facebook might have also done it too - wasn't there some kind of anti-trolling pact between several major software patent holders?

draw_down · on Feb 4, 2016

If you like. But Apple is not a "non-practicing entity"

TallGuyShort · on Feb 4, 2016

I'd say that's part of the definition of being a patent troll, but not part of the definition of engaging in patent trolling.

st3v3r · on Feb 4, 2016

Yes. Remember, Apple never started asserting their patents until they were sued by numerous patent trolls and Kodak and Creative.