Slashdot Mirror
LinuxDefenders.org Launches To Fight Patent Trolls
eldavojohn writes "The Linux Defenders Network is a new organization sponsored by the Open Invention Network, the Software Freedom Law Center, and The Linux Foundation to help the community defend itself against patent trolls. Three models, or 'IP rights management tools,' are offered: Peer to Patent, Post-Issue Peer to Patent, and Defensive Publications. Mich Kabay's article in NetworkWorld cites an all-too-familiar incident from December, when General Patent Corp. announced it was working on behalf of Worlds.com to sue everyone — this probably could have been avoided with a little prior art help from the community. From the organization's about page: 'We encourage contributions from anyone that is interested in ensuring that innovation is not stifled by poor quality patents and is interested in assisting the patent office in its goal of improving the overall quality of patents.' Are these guys saviors arriving in the nick of time, or just another hopeless community effort to rein in the failing patent system?"
news at #1
Seriously, other than SCO, how many people claim Linux infringes on their patents? O.o
A great initiative on paper, but I doubt it will lead to much. As someone who wrote a patent more than a decade ago and had the pleasure of being sued by my ex-employer (using my patents against me - nice), I can attest to the craziness of claim construction and other esoteric legal arguments.
Unlike coding as a group, which gave us Linux, creating meaningful and valid prior art is both harder and much less rewarding. That's why I doubt it can get enough contributors to make a difference.
Can't we just force the patent examiners to use Google search instead?
--
Fair Revenue Sharing for Bloggers: Pageviews or Equity?
Hope this turns out better than Windows Defender!
A site designed to educate what patent trolling is, and show current examples of patent trolling seems more logical to me. These cretins hide behind obfustification of the issue. A site that plainly cuts through the BS that is often the case of these trolls is what we need not a 'linux defender'. Troll the patent trolls don't defend against them.
We're dicks! We're reckless, arrogant, stupid dicks. And the Worlds.com people are pussies. And their lawyer is an asshole. Pussies don't like dicks, because pussies get fucked by dicks. But dicks also fuck assholes: assholes that just want to shit on everything. Pussies may think they can deal with assholes their way. But the only thing that can fuck an asshole is a dick, with some balls. The problem with dicks is: they fuck too much or fuck when it isn't appropriate - and it takes a pussy to show them that. But sometimes, pussies can be so full of shit that they become assholes themselves... because pussies are an inch and half away from ass holes. I don't know much about this crazy, crazy world, but I do know this: If you don't let us fuck this asshole, we're going to have our dicks and pussies all covered in shit!
I mean seriously, Linux Defender? Champion of freedom and justice and the smelly, unbathed, basement dweller way! Slashdot would own if it weren't for all the zealots on their holy crusade that no one cares about.
hahaha, foooz, get out there and make me some more sofwayar
news at #1
Slashdot, news from two months ago
Don't forget to pay your $699 licensing fee you cock-smoking tea-baggers.
That's why I doubt it can get enough contributors to make a difference.
Can't we just force the patent examiners to use Google search instead?
Well, based on their recent dismal performance, I think that that's not likely to happen soon. The USPO just does not seem to have the competence available in sufficient numbers.
They might be better off just posting a summary of all s/w patents to /., where there seem to be plenty of experts with plenty of time *cough*
So they're going to help improve the 'quality' of software patents so that patent trolls, rather than getting weak patents which can be easily challenged in court, will be able to get stronger, less contestable patents. They're going to publish prior art so that patent applications can be carefully worded to work around it. This may not be such a great idea.
-- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
What we should do instead is raise money to buy an island and form a freedom-compliant government on it. The constitution of this island would state that everyone has total and complete freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom to information, with absolutely, positively, no exceptions. This means yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater is allowed. The constitution would further state that no other country's IP laws have any meaning on the island. This means it is legal to copy any information and nobody can say or do anything about it. The constitution would further state that no taxes of any kind or any amount may be levied for any reason, that the government may consist ONLY of elected people (no appointees or hires), that these people are allowed to work in their government role only 15 days per year, that they volunteer for the part and receive no compensation, and that any legislation they pass must first be approved by a 2/3rd majority of the entire island's voters in all of ten consecutive elections before it passes into law. There is no executive or judiciary. All disputes and other matters are settled by duels fought at a designated spot on the island's beach, with the only requirement that each party to the duel must bring three witnesses. The constitution would further state that no treaties or agreements may be signed with any country for any reason. The constitution would further state that the island would obtain an asteroid the size of Texas and prevent all outside threats or attacks from all other countries through a policy of deterrence: "You threaten us, we drop this asteroid the size of Texas and knock the whole planet out of orbit." All of your patent troll problems are solved by moving to this island. Now if only we could figure out where to get the billion or two that it would cost to buy such a place.
take my ass, you will lve it!!!!!!!
i'm a sex man.. email me, quick!!! mits03@hotmail.com
so we can contribute quickly.
Read radical news here
If all they achieve is to get SCO to STFU and p*** off, they will have rendered the Linux world a great service.
Help feed homeless animals - Free! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
It is the original nature of conduct that the word of any well-mannered person should be accepted as fact in the course of good business. Microsoft products are used dominantly throughout the entire world because they are accepted as a valid product and expressed as a thorough and complete solution for the daily functions of a company. When a spokesman of Microsoft says that they think other persons not deployed by Microsoft, have infringed on Microsoft's intellectual property by copying it selectively into a non-competing or competing product dubbed "Linux", then we should accept that as fact until whomever makes "Linux" can prove otherwise in direct comparison of Microsoft's property (code) to the alleged offending code of Linux.
Hands down. No if's, and's, or but's. If Linux can't defend itself against all accusations against it, then development should be stopped on that unmaintainable device or product that uses it. I don't want to hear any more of this subject. Let it all die already. You all are non-conformists that make me sick. I should be able to turn on any computer and run software for Microsoft Windows they way that I imagine it should run. The same goes for Macintosh; it should all run the software on the store shelves, not some fanatics' special aisl of their own software. The U.S. Government, Internal Revenue Service, and municipal courts staff and tellers all use Microsoft's Windows operating system and software and that should be the requirement of every person just so they can interact with reality in daily life. You people all just erect obstacles preventing everyone from doing their job.
Get off your soapbox and find some real talent, because computer software and patents are obviously not yours but someone else's talent that you borrowed.
Sincerily,
Bob P. Goiter
and piss cocktail. problem; a few if you 3on't the next round of
people's faces is that should be nned to scream that are about 7000/5
Standpo1nt, I don't And, after initi4l need to scream that
It will unfortunately probably help do the job which should be done correctly to begin with by the patent office, however instead of fixing a system which should not exist, effort and money should be put into getting rid of patents.
Promote true freedom - support standards and interoperability.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-- Margaret Mead
Seem's fitting, your other option is to suck it up.
-- Wondering how long until the internet becomes fully corporatist, like television.