10.24.07
Gemini version available ♊︎Microsoft Hit by a ‘Company… Solely Focused on Commercializing its Patent Portfolio’
When all weak patents break loose
The patent trolls strike again. The victim, ironically enough, is a so-called ‘patent terrorist’ [1, 2, 3, 4].
According to Timeline’s SEC filing last week, Microsoft agreed to pay Timeline $5 million within 14 days as part of the settlement. Timeline, which describes itself as a “company … solely focused on commercializing its patent portfolio,” had sued the Redmond computer giant and its subsidiary ProClarity Corp. for patent infringement.
Sadly enough, even Big Blue seems to be up to no good, again.
IBM Corp. says it has dreamed up a new method for profiting from its vast storehouse of patents. And by the way, the company wants to patent the idea.
Eric Gearhart said,
October 25, 2007 at 8:41 am
“IBM Corp. says it has dreamed up a new method for profiting from its vast storehouse of patents.”
How do you know IBM will use this patent for “evil” and not “good”? What if IBM uses this to sue anyone who tries to be a patent troll in the future? That would be a nice hack on the broken patent system, wouldn’t you say?
Roy Schestowitz said,
October 25, 2007 at 9:16 am
Yes, I saw this type of discussion before. Still, it’s a case of fighting fire with fire, IMHO. A patent like this won’t collapse the system.