$400 Million IP Experiment Making Some Nervous

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."

Comments

Please please bring it on

[localman]

The patent system will not be changed until it wreaks havoc across the land. It will be a painful process, but isn't change always such? Right now we're stuck water torture mode, and it's hard to convince people that patents are a net loss for society. I know they are because the company I work for is dealing with frivolous patent issues regularly now. It's just crazy how abused the whole thing is.

So I'm hoping this company goes after all the big boys and wins. I want to see IBM, NCR, and any other company with a patent litigation strategy to get nailed. And everyone else and their little dogs, too: Apple, Microsoft, etc. When they've all had their hands tied and/or had billions in revenue funnelled off to these trolls, when jobs start getting lost, when markets start crashing, maybe just maybe the issue will get the treatment it deserves.

Cheers.

Lots of Evil Promisses and History to Keep

[twitter]

You make an interesting argument, but I don't know if I fully agree. Let's say Microsoft wants to keep Linux buried in litigation through this organization.

Why should you say so when they have spoken for themselves? "we owe it to our shareholders to have a strategy" says Steve Ballmer. The SCO case speaks louder than words about intent.

Nokia might not like seeing its patent troll baby being used to quash one of its own business partners. So what happens when this sort of conflict of interest arises?

Do you think Nokia would care about Slashdot if they were offered ownership of Linux? Make no mistake, the ultimate intent of patent legislation is to own, "IP", the market and your very hide.

I find it hard to believe this troll group will be used for the evil people seem to be claiming.

You might as well tell me that the BSA does not sue public school systems for copying word processors. Same people, same principles, the same actions.

the group exists to allow for a collective means to *defend* from REAL patent trolls.

If amassing $400,000,000 worth of business method and fat line patents is not a troll, what is? You and your real invention?