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Tech Giants Bankrolling IP Hoarding Start-Up

Posted by timothy on from the you-scratcha-my-back dept.

theodp writes "Microsoft alum Nathan Myhrvold so strongly believes intellectual property is the next software that he's studying for the patent bar exam. His company, Intellectual Ventures, doesn't actually make anything - only patent attorneys roam the hallways. Myhrvold isn't the only true believer. Microsoft, Intel, Sony, Nokia, Apple, Google, and eBay have contributed to a $350M bankroll which the firm is using to buy up existing patents that can be rented to companies who want to produce real products."

3 of 528 comments (clear)

  1. Re:America: Fucking itself in the ear again by themaidtricks · · Score: 3, Informative

    So one day your African start-up is merrily going along infringing one or two of Megacorp's patents, and then suddenly Megacorp's "security force" shows up and kills all the workers, burns down the factory, and confiscates the "pirated" material.

    Megacorp: 2000384348783 Enterpreneurs: 0

  2. Re:Slippery slopes by fuzza · · Score: 4, Informative

    As quoted in Lessig's OSCON speech (kudos to whoever made that Flash presentation), Bill Gates has been thinking along these lines for a while:

    The solution... is patenting as much as we can... A future startup with no patents of its own will be forced to pay whatever price the giants choose to impose. That price might be high - established companies have an interest in excluding future competitors.
    --
    Can't find examples of evolution? No matter, neither could Dawkins
  3. Re:I'd like to thank the USPTO by lightknight · · Score: 3, Informative

    I'll see your Wikipedia, and raise you a Merriam-Webster:

    One entry found for mercantilism.

    Main Entry: mercantilism
    Pronunciation: -"tE-"li-z&m, -"tI-, -t&-
    Function: noun
    1 : the theory or practice of mercantile pursuits : COMMERCIALISM
    2 : an economic system developing during the decay of feudalism to unify and increase the power and especially the monetary wealth of a nation by a strict governmental regulation of the entire national economy usually through policies designed to secure an accumulation of bullion, a favorable balance of trade, the development of agriculture and manufactures, and the establishment of foreign trading monopolies
    - mercantilist /-list/ noun or adjective
    - mercantilistic /"m&r-k&n-"tE-'lis-tik, -"tI-, -t&-/ adjective

    --
    I am John Hurt.