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So this wouldn't be considered "patent trolling"? I know Microsoft has had quite a history with Android and I always assumed it was just them using their patent
by ltamake 15y ago
So this wouldn't be considered "patent trolling"? I know Microsoft has had quite a history with Android and I always assumed it was just them using their patents to make some quick money.
Great answer, by the way. Definitely cleared up a lot of questions I had.
- bradleyland 15y agoThe term "patent trolling" is generally reserved for companies who have no intention of bringing a product to market. Keep in mind that Microsoft has a competing product in the market, and spends millions of dollars on R&D. Patents are a way of protecting a legitimate R&D effort. Imagine the disincentive with regard to R&D if a company had no protection from a competitor simply taking their idea once they came to market. The key is to protect patents from abuse, while still providing a means to protect legitimate effort in innovation for a reasonable period of time.
- orangecat 15y agoImagine the disincentive with regard to R&D if a company had no protection from a competitor simply taking their idea once they came to market. Yes, allowing any random developer to create a spreadsheet or first person shooter or social networking app would obviously bring innovation to a crashing halt.
- Steko 15y agoWow three straw men in one sentence. Well played I guess.