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$400 Million IP Experiment Making Some Nervous

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the duck-and-cover dept.

BrianWCarver writes "IP Law & Business shines the spotlight on Intellectual Ventures, the IP start-up founded in 2000 by former Microsoft chief technologist Nathan Myhrvold. According to some estimates, Intellectual Ventures has amassed 3,000-5,000 patents, with the help of a $400 million investment from some of the biggest technology companies, including Nokia, Intel, Apple, Sony, and Microsoft. As the patent stockpile grows, so does the speculation--and the fear. IP lawyers and tech executives worry that Intellectual Ventures is less interested in changing the world with big ideas, and more focused on becoming an über patent troll, wreaking litigation havoc across industries with its patents."

3 of 262 comments (clear)

  1. Patents by BigZaphod · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Well if only some other company had a patent on patent trolling! Then the problem would solve itself. Of course, chances are good that Intellectual Ventures has the patent on patent trolling - in which case we're all screwed.

    --
    Hexy - a strategy game for iPhone/iPod Touch
  2. Re:For the better, no doubt by vandon · · Score: 1, Redundant
    Perhaps now it will finally compell change to the (broken) patent system.

    The patent system will be fixed about the time the copyright system is fixed. That time is never.

    The RIAA, MPAA, and Disney buy votes for their latest bill at the same time the large patent holders are "donating" money to those congressional members. The only difference is that right now, the copyright/drm lobby is using Benjamins and the patent lobby is using Jacksons.
  3. They've created a monster! by SeaFox · · Score: 1, Redundant

    ...with the help of a $400 million investment from some of the biggest technology companies, including Nokia, Intel, Apple, Sony, and Microsoft.

    IP lawyers and tech executives worry that Intellectual Ventures is less interested in changing the world with big ideas, and more focused on becoming an über patent troll...

    Wouldn't Apple, Sony, Microsoft, and Nokia be the companies most targeted by a patent troll? Everytime some company we've never heard of pops up with submarine patent to try and rake in millions on an existing product, it's one of these four companies who's on the other end of the infringement suit.

    Unless they have some sort of ironclad immunity clause in their investment contracts, it sounds like they are helping their own worst enemy.