Summary: A shocking new example which shows just how broad patents can be
JUST WHEN you think you've coming across bizarre patents Andres Guadamuz tells us all that there is a lawsuit over "technology that synchronises masturbation and porn": [via Glyn Moody]
Best patent suit ever? Dispute over patented technology that synchronises masturbation and porn
"We Are Not Making This Up" says the headline from courthousenews.com, which is a serious Web site that's baffled by this case:
In a patent case that gives new meaning to the term "digital technology," New Frontier Technologies claims that a rival's "Real Touch" masturbation tool infringes on its "Method and Device for Interactive Virtual Control of Sexual Aids Using Digital Computer Networks." New Frontier took a license on the patent on Valentine's Day 2008.
According to the federal complaint in Las Vegas, Hassex owns the patent and licensed it to New Frontier. Both of them sued Internet Services, a California LLC that operates out of Charlotte, N.C., and WMM
Holdings LLC, of Nevada. The patent at issue is No. 6,368,268.
The patent for the "Method and Device for Interactive Virtual Control of Sexual Aids Using Digital Computer Networks" was issued on April 9, 2002, according to the complaint.
How ridiculous does the USPTO try to look? Watch this video. ⬆
With over 6 million pounds in debt (nearly 10 million US dollars) we guess it's likely some other company will take over the site (if it deems it worthwhile)
The crash of this bubble isn't just inevitable, it's already happening and receding sporadically because of false announcements about money that does not actually exist (to "buy time")
When Debian wanted to stage a seemingly legitimate election it needed to have more than one candidate running; so eventually the female partner of a geek rose to the challenge (had no coding skills at all, no technical history in Debian) and lost to the "incumbent German"
Even back in the 90s many people converted programs from one language to another. That could invalidate copyleft (and copyright), which already existed
"The Claimant says he is “a computer security expert”, but his background and his track record in the education sense (genetics) does not support this assertion."