Bonum Certa Men Certa

Patent Trolls Network-1 and Microsoft-Connected Finjan and Intellectual Ventures in the News Again

"Apple has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Network-1 Technologies, which was suing over a patent from 1999 that basically just describes a simple file system function." (Source: Apple pays $25 million in settlement with patent troll)

Summary: Microsoft's extensive network of patent trolls and parasites as seen in this week's (mostly yesterday's) news -- a network Microsoft habitually sics on its competition -- and a reminder of the menace known as Network-1 (article on the right, excerpt above)

THE plague of patent trolls (especially in the US) is not a solved issue. Sure, things are getting a little better, but there are many US patents (still being granted by the USPTO) which can potentially be used by trolls at any time. There needn't even be litigation; sometimes blackmail/extortion is enough for these trolls to extract 'protection' money, as is most often the case (it's impossible to tell just how many times it happens, maybe a hundred thousand times per year).



"There needn’t even be litigation; sometimes blackmail/extortion is enough for these trolls to extract ‘protection’ money, as is most often the case (it’s impossible to tell just how many times it happens, maybe a hundred thousand times per year)."Finjan, a Microsoft-connected patent troll, has been very active recently. It bragged about new lawsuits early in the month and did it again later. So several times so far this month (even in August when everyone is away), Finjan filed lawsuits, bragging about it in paid press releases. How many unknown firms out there paid 'protection' money to this malicious troll? Yesterday, Watchtroll showed its true face by lobbying for this troll or at least justifying this behaviour. This kind of support for trolls is why we call that site Watchtroll. At least it's consistent in its defense of trolls. Remember that Finjan is little more than a patent litigation/shakedown firm (that's where money comes from). Maybe it had some real products in the past, but that's not where money comes from these days.

"So for the past 14 years it has been little more than a patent troll."The same goes for Network-1. Yesterday, Seeking Alpha published this very long and promotional article about Network-1, basically recommending it. Calling a troll (MPE) a "Patent Company" (even in the headline) is misleading. Here is some background: "Network-1 discontinued its software product offering in December 2002. In November 2003 Network-1 commenced a new business consisting of the acquisition, development, licensing and protection of its intellectual property which currently consists of a portfolio of telecommunications and data networking patents. In February 2004, the Company initiated its licensing efforts relating to its patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,218,930) covering the remote delivery of power over Ethernet cables (the "Remote Power Patent")."

So for the past 14 years it has been little more than a patent troll. "There was a 2,000% rise in the stock after the business model switch," the article says. "But to be fair, it was from 2003, when the dot bomb had flattened the stock to near zero. As security software peddler, its results were consistently pathetic, typically losing over five times its sales in loss from continuing operations."

"So what we have here is a classic transition from production to trolling."The patents are here to stay for years to come. To quote: "How these court cases turn out is very topsy-turvy and a constant battle against the expiration of the patents. The Remote Power Patent that currently has a yearly revenue stream coming to NTIP from Cisco and others expires in 2020. But expirations don't necessarily mean no revenue. For example, there is the case of the Mirror Worlds patents. In 2013, NTIP bought some patents from this company that Apple was infringing on."

The troll is now busy buying some new 'ammunition', too: "Otherwise known as the Cox patents, they were "12 issued patents that relate to identifying or tagging uploaded media content and taking business actions based on the identification" as the website puts it. In 2013, Network-1 bought the patents and is filing for more based on the original patents. In 2014, it began proceedings against Google, specifically against its subsidiary, YouTube, alleging it uses this technology without a license. One has to wonder how many more are using it. In June 2016, the Patent Trial and Appeals Board upheld the patentability of 119 of the 129 claims. Another objection raised by YouTube, Covered Business Method, was reviewed and ruled in favor of Network-1 in October 2016."

"We quite frankly hope that parasites' cheerleading sites like IAM will go away."So what we have here is a classic transition from production to trolling.

Contrast this with a new (hours old) article about another Microsoft-connected patent troll, Intellectual Ventures. It starts by noting the connection to Microsoft:

Founded in 2000, Intellectual Ventures "has earned a special brand of hatred in the business world as the ultimate patent troll. It doesn't delay your flight like United, buffer your movie stream like Comcast, or shellac your shrimp with oil like BP. Rather, it hoards ideas." It "goes around to companies and says: 'Hey, you want to protect yourself from lawsuits? We own tons of patents. Make a deal with us. Our patents will not only cover everything you're doing in your business, no one will dare sue you." "It then wields this intellectual-property portfolio—the world's largest—like a weapon. Companies can either pay up or face a lawsuit."

Co-founders Nathan Myhrvold and Edward Jung "formerly served in high-level positions at Microsoft. Peter Detkin also played a key management role in developing Intellectual Ventures. In one of patent law's great ironies, Detkin coined the derogatory term 'patent troll' during his tenure" as the vice president and assistant general counsel at Intel. Myhrvold, who was once "the 'chief gastronomic officer' of Zagat Survey, the company that publishes the eponymous restaurant guides," is "the kind of guy the press loves to profile."


Notice the mention there of Peter Detkin (from Intel)? Well, citing IAM (the voice of patent trolls and friend of Intellectual Ventures), hours ago Benjamin Henrion recalled "Peter Detkin: BTW, I still have the original troll that was the inspiration (the doll, not Ray Niro) in my office" (Ray Niro is dead now and his company is defunct).

"These are patent firms, not real firms that just happen to have patents."We quite frankly hope that parasites' cheerleading sites like IAM will go away. They perpetuate the trolling epidemic and yesterday IAM published an analysis of Sandoz Inc v Amgen, basically in the form of a firm's paid puff piece (self promotion). They just want as much patent damage as possible and they are funded by those who profit from the damage. These are patent firms, not real firms that just happen to have patents. Here is a new press release in which Code is bragging about patents (in a paid press release) rather than actual products. It's really quite the elegant symptom of companies gone wrong/rogue, like its neighbour Novell about a decade ago. All they become is a big pile of patents.

Recent Techrights' Posts

Microsoft Uses LLM Slop to Defraud (or Rob) Shareholders
Microsoft is basically defrauding its shareholders by LLM slop
 
Why the Microsoft People Who Started SLAPPs Against Techrights Could Very Well be Sent Back to Prison
White-collar crime is also a crime
The Company Run by Former (and Last Proper) Red Hat CEO, Promoting Microsoft Mono, Faces Shock as Senior Partner Jailed for 33 Sexual Offenses Including Pedophilia
"As reported by The Oxford Mail in April 2025, the offenses include rape, sexual assault, engaging in non-penetrative activity with a child, and more."
Microsoft Lost 29% of Windows Users, Based on Microsoft, Now Come Massive Layoffs
Microsoft collapse is today
Slopwatch: Google Serves to People Linux Slop and Linux FUD (Made by Bots)
"Slopwatch" finds it difficult to ignore Google's role in encouraging LLM slop
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, July 01, 2025
IRC logs for Tuesday, July 01, 2025
"Wayland People" Behave Like the Googles and Microsofts of This World
Published yesterday by Igor Ljubuncic
Gemini Links 02/07/2025: Arch Linux and Fulfillment in Gemini
Links for the day
Links 01/07/2025: "Independence Day in Taiwan", Bounties on Software Patents
Links for the day
What Happens When Your Law Firm is Preoccupied With Harassing and Trying to Extort a Humble Couple in Manchester, Even on Behalf of Violent Microsoft Staff From Another Continent
It's good to see that law firms which operate in bad faith are perishing
Lawyer X, Law Firm X and Elon Musk's X: scandals linked by Old Xaverian
Reprinted with permission from Daniel Pocock
Gemini Links 01/07/2025: Distraction-Free Writing and Hytale Mismanagement
Links for the day
Links 01/07/2025: "Beauty of Blogging" and "Etiquette of Collapse"
Links for the day
The Web is a Dead End
We need to adopt alternatives
When Words Lose Their Intended Meaning
examples of words that, at least in the technical spheres, don't mean what they sound like
People Who Disagree With You on Technical Matters May or May Not Agree With You on Political Things (But Usually They Do)
What bothers me a great deal is seeing left-leaning people accusing other left-leaning people of being "nazis"
"Too Much Choice" and "Too Many Programming Languages"
What IBM and its apologists aim for was attempted in the 1930s and it failed
Microsoft Lost 400,000,000 Windows Users, According to Microsoft
more people adopt smaller computers and many people replace Windows with GNU/Linux, as they don't really need a new computer
The "Davos Effect": Tarnishing the Reputation of Places Not by Overtourism But by Oligarch Infestation
The last Venice needs is an affiliation with Venetian oligarchs
Half a Year Gone, What's to Come Next
In the second half of 2025 we expect to be done with the Microsoft SLAPPs
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Monday, June 30, 2025
IRC logs for Monday, June 30, 2025
People at the Very Top of Microsoft Know How Bad Things Really Are
There's no product that can replace the former profitability of Windows licensing and stuff that went on top of Windows
Gemini Links 01/07/2025: Mid Year and a Tour of Old Languages
Links for the day
EPO Presentation Bemoans Misuse of Slop in Decision-Making on Patents and in Classification (Which is Likely Illegal Too)
We habitually mention failed use cases of LLMs on the Web
Mass Layoffs at Microsoft Confirmed, "XBox Hardware Is Dead"
It's possible that over 20% of the staff will be laid off
Links 30/06/2025: Kyrgyzstan vs Media Freedom, Dalai Lama Succession
Links for the day
Gemini Links 30/06/2025: Backend Programs in Gemini and Dynamic Content Without The Scripting
Links for the day
Links 30/06/2025: Zuckerberg’s Tax-Evading Scheme Harms Kids, US Copyright Office Lacks Leadership
Links for the day
Microsoft Isn't Laying Off Tens of Thousands to 'Invest' in Slop ('Hey Hi'), It's Laying Off Tens of Thousands Because It's Running Out of Money (and Willing Lenders)
the layoffs are a sign of the business failing, not "hey hi" (whatever that is) replacing staff
Intel Lays Off 20% of Its Workforce, Microsoft is Doing the Same This Year
Like a yoyo, whatever goes up will come back down
Microsoft XBox Layoffs: Almost 2,000 Layoffs Became "Over 2,000"? (Over 20% of the Staff)
over 20% of staff will be let go, not counting staff that leaves voluntarily
GNU/Linux Rises to New Highs in Angola, Africa in General is Abandoning Windows
Western media barely covers Microsoft layoffs in Africa, but in recent years Microsoft culled the workforce and even shut down entire operations
Summer Plans in Techrights and Elsewhere
massive layoffs at Microsoft
Destination Geminispace (in the Age of LLM Slop and Slop Images That Infest the Web and Social Control Media)
Geminispace isn't vast, but at least it is - on average - a lot "cleaner"
GNU/Linux Growing in Sierra Leone This Year
Based on what statCounter is seeing, this year there are more and more people there who adopt GNU/Linux
Serial Sloppers Gonna Slop
More sites out there ought to call out the cheaters
Quartz (qz.com) is Spam and a Slopfarm
It used to be OK. Then they fired the staff.
Links 30/06/2025: US Economic Woes, Extreme Heat
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, June 29, 2025
IRC logs for Sunday, June 29, 2025
Gemini Links 30/06/2025: "The AI Hype" and New AuraGem Ask
Links for the day