Patent troll to sue Linden Lab, Blizzard

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031103650.html

by jibiki • 17 years ago

24 5 17 years ago

washingtonpost.com

gacek• 17 years ago

What were those 'patents' for?

innovation protection?

yeah, right.

I really hope software patents are not introduced in Europe.

herval• 17 years ago

they were for trolling... also, I was under the impression that patents apply in europe - I once worked for a swedish company that had a really hard time due to a dutch patent troll who claimed ownership of their IP via broad and vague patents, soon after the company raised VC money...

troels• 17 years ago

Patents do - Software patents don't. However, if you want to sell your stuff in the US, you must obey the rules there, and the US is a pretty big marked.

noonespecial• 17 years ago

I thought there were some reasonable limits to how long you could wait to try to enforce your patents specifically to prevent the most egregious submariners.

1) Obtain a vague patent from a failed startup. 2) Wait for Blizzard (and multiplayer 3d games in general) to get reee-heeheehee-ly big, 3) Profit, should not be a legitimate business model.

On the bright side, these losers have probably missed the boat on making a quick buck through regular old patent extortion. Now that they are challenging an entire industry, they are bound to face considerable (and well funded) resistance. (They've probably SCOed themselves)

froo• 17 years ago

Couldn't Blizzard argue Prior Art due to MUD's and MUSH's, thus simply nullifying the patent troll's position?

Patent troll to sue Linden Lab, Blizzard

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