just friggen' do it. Keep in mind one thing though. You start a business to make money. If your just want to gain cred for you skillz or code something new and cool, then get a job or join/create an open source project.
If you want to run a business, then put in the effort to figure out how you'll make a profit. Beware your desire to build something new because it might not be new at all. Take some time up front to research your idea. Lots of guys hunker down for 6 months or more creating something that is already common.
Your main point appears to be that a mega-corp will wander in and sue you into submission for patent infringement. If that happens, then there are a couple options. First off, realize that you are unlikely to be sued unless you are actually doing enough business for it to be worthwhile/threatening. Treat every nastygram as an opportunity. Also, realize that every successful business should expect to be sued by someone for something. It's a symptom of having money.
Strategies:
1) You have no patents. So, ask them what it is they want. You popped up on their radar somehow. Maybe they want to buy you or prevent someone else from buying you. If you want to fight, contest their patent. Find some prior art. Find a very similar patent and license it.
2) You have your own patent(s). Same as above, but threaten 'em back if it makes sense.
Slashdot Mirror
just friggen' do it. Keep in mind one thing though. You start a business to make money. If your just want to gain cred for you skillz or code something new and cool, then get a job or join/create an open source project.
If you want to run a business, then put in the effort to figure out how you'll make a profit. Beware your desire to build something new because it might not be new at all. Take some time up front to research your idea. Lots of guys hunker down for 6 months or more creating something that is already common.
Your main point appears to be that a mega-corp will wander in and sue you into submission for patent infringement. If that happens, then there are a couple options. First off, realize that you are unlikely to be sued unless you are actually doing enough business for it to be worthwhile/threatening. Treat every nastygram as an opportunity. Also, realize that every successful business should expect to be sued by someone for something. It's a symptom of having money.
Strategies:
1) You have no patents. So, ask them what it is they want. You popped up on their radar somehow. Maybe they want to buy you or prevent someone else from buying you. If you want to fight, contest their patent. Find some prior art. Find a very similar patent and license it.
2) You have your own patent(s). Same as above, but threaten 'em back if it makes sense.