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Patents of Business Destruction

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the something-to-think-about dept.

SnapShot writes "Over on Slate there's an opinion article on the Blackberry patent case. Here's a quote: 'It's easy to bash trolls as evil extortionists, to do so may be to miss an important lesson: Patent trolls aren't evil, but rational and predictable, akin to the mold that eventually grows on rotten meat. They're useful for understanding how the world of software patent got to where it is and what might be done to fix it.' "

9 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder how the trolls think, reading this. :) by Caspian · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nothing like waking up in the morning and reading someone comparing you to mold. :)

    --
    With spending like this, exactly what are "conservatives" conserving?
    1. Re:I wonder how the trolls think, reading this. :) by faloi · · Score: 1, Funny

      I was in the military. I've been compared to worse when I wake up in the morning.

      --
      "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
    2. Re:I wonder how the trolls think, reading this. :) by faloi · · Score: 3, Funny

      I hope you weren't compared to patent squatters, our military deserve far better than that.

      No... They weren't *that* mean. Besides, we could've complained to the JAG about that.

      --
      "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." -Albert Einstein
  2. The solution by aussie_a · · Score: 4, Funny

    I say we treat patents as if it was rotten meat. Toss it away and go have chicken instead. Now I'm just hoping chicken is freedom in this analogy, because I'm not quite sure to be honest.

  3. Re:Funny definition of useful by critter_hunter · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, patent trolls are not evil, they're just greedy, devoid of morals and will do anything to further their ambitions

    Oh wait, THAT'S LIKE THE VERY DEFINITION OF EVIL. What kind of idiot writes those articles?

    --
    Karma: Could be worse (could be raining)
  4. Freedom Range Chicken by Fr05t · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm getting a patent for Freedom Range Chicken.

  5. Isn't it ironic? by BarryNorton · · Score: 4, Funny
    The irony of the patent system is that while it's relatively easy to get a patent, the vast majority of the assigned patents are completely worthless.
    "It's like raaaaaaaain on your wedding day..."
  6. Re:Funny definition of useful by Ken+D · · Score: 3, Funny

    Right, the fact that they are rational and predictable just means that they are "Lawful Evil".

    Now a company like SCO just has to be Chaotic Evil. Can you predict what they are going to do next?

  7. Re:Blackberry isn't relevant by Burz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Great business idea! Invent a new programming language and patent it. Then when people start releasing software written in it you can sue all of them for infringement.

    Just when I thought C# was becoming popular on Slashdot, you go and ruin it for me. :-(