01/01/2014
"Patent trolls" are firms that acquire large amounts of obscure software patents, and then threaten small businesses - saying that they are "infringing" on these patents.
Whereas Patent trolls used to attack large and small tech firms, they are now also attacking universities, hospitals, charities and even consumers with mass mailers asking the recipients to pay up or end up in court.
It is simply a matter of extortion.
The "big guys" including Samsung, Apple, Microsoft etc. have also acquired large "portfolios" of Software patents to be used as weapon arsenals, so that they can troll against each other and against any new companies that dare enter the market.
The losers are the consumers - and the entrepreneurs that have to spend their money on lawyers - instead of building their businesses.
It is no longer a case of "let the best man or woman win" - it is "let the firm with the largest budget for lawyers win".
Developing software or innovative Internet services is like walking blindfolded across a mine field. It is just a matter of time until someone sues you for some vague patent they claim they have.
Getting a worldwide monopoly on an algorithm or a "one click to purchase" idea or some other obvious way of using a technology simply doesn't make sense. It is unfair and unreasonable to have a monopoly on such an idea.
In our view - any use of Software patents is foul play.
It has been said that "No one likes a monopoly, until they have one themselves" and the same goes for patents.
Some entrepreneurs eagerly pursue the strategy of getting Software Patents themselves.
This is in our view a waste of time - and an unjust way of building value.
Given all this - wouldn't it be wonderful if all Software Patents ever issued suddenly became invalid?
Well. It may actually be about to happen.
Earlier this month the US Supreme court agreed to rule in the case "CLS Bank v. Alice", which will define if Software Patents are eligible for Patent protection - or not.
If the ruling - in July 2014 - is that Software Patents are not up for protection, then all software Patents ever issued may become worthless.
For the sake of all future Internet and software entrepreneurs - and for the sake of mankind - we urge the Supreme court to do the right thing:
Please abolish the Software Patents - and get rid of the Patent trolls - now.
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Read more in the Economist: http://econ.st/1hhZ81f
