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Ask Nathan Myhrvold What You Will, Live Q&A April 3

Posted by samzenpus on from the ask-away dept.

He was the CTO at Microsoft, is an accomplished nature and wildlife photographer, and his cookbook Modernist Cuisine won a James Beard award, but Nathan Myhrvold is probably best known for being co-founder and CEO of Intellectual Ventures. In 2009 the company launched a prototyping and research laboratory called Intellectual Ventures Lab. The lab has hired many prominent scientists to work on a variety of inventions including safer nuclear reactor designs and vaccine research. Under Myhrvold's direction Intellectual Ventures has purchased 40,000 patents and applications and internally developed over 2000 inventions, but not without controversy. Nathan has agreed to take some time to answer your questions but please limit yourself to one question per post. As a bonus on Wed. April 3, Nathan will be doing a live Q&A from 12-12:30pm PDT.

7 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Is the money worth it? by h4rr4r · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is the money made in patent trolling worth being that kind of scumbag?

  2. Relationship to Oasis Research and Lodsys? by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One of my favorite radio shows called "This American Life" covered Intellectual Ventures extensively about two years ago (PDF transcript here audio here) in an episode called "When Patents Attack!" They tried to visit Oasis Research offices at 104 East Houston Street, Suite 190 in Marshall, Texas but found them largely vacant. What is IV's relationship with Oasis Research and Lodsys and why are these empty offices in Marshall, Texas? What sort of partners are Lodsys and Oasis Research? Customers? Licensees?

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    My work here is dung.
  3. Chris Crawford Substitute? by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "This American Life" covered Intellectual Ventures extensively about two years ago (PDF transcript here audio here) in an episode called "When Patents Attack!" And Joe Chernesky referred them to Chris Crawford as an example of where Intellectual Ventures had helped an inventor license his/her patents to customers. Since the Chris Crawford lead largely turned up to be bogus, could you refer us to a few small time inventors that Intellectual Ventures has helped license their patents to licensees without having to get into extensive litigation?

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    My work here is dung.
  4. Did the US Switch to First-to-File Affect You? by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Did the recent switch this month to a first-to-file country affect you negatively? Positively? What sort of impact do you foresee that having on your business model? Was it right to move that way?

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    My work here is dung.
  5. When will it end? by stonebit · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Are you aware that you are one of the most hated persons in the software community?

  6. Example of benefit to individual inventors? by patmandu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Can you present examples of how IV has helped individual inventors to get revenue from their inventions? Please include specific names, specific inventions, approximate revenue seen by the inventor, and current status of the invention-related product(s) and ownership of the patent(s).

  7. question for Dr. Myhrvold by cosmiques · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hypothetically, if Intellectual Ventures were to vanish as an organization, and its IP holdings were put into the public domain, what would be the net effect for society? Do you believe that it would be detrimental to society, and if so, how?

    (Have been lurking on Slashdot for 14 years, but it was a chance to ask Dr. Myhrvold a question that motivated creating an account).