I am glad to see that the justices seem to understand this.
Our current IP legal landscape has unexpected side effects– a very profitable business model is to set up a completely functionless entity which acquires and hoards vague patents (such as software/business model patents). They then look for existing, successful business models which those patents might apply to and file a suit in the eastern district of Texas which is known as “the rocket docket.”
When buying patents with the sole purpose of bringing infringement suits is a viable business model, you know we have a problem. The answer lies in REDUCING intellectual property rights, NOT expanding them!
Shameless grab from Slashdot:
Roberts surmised that ‘buy low, sell high’ might be a patentable business method, Sotomayor wondered if speed-dating could be patentable, Breyer questioned whether a professor could patent a lesson plan that kept his students from falling asleep, and Scalia brought up the old-time radio soap opera Lorenzo Jones, featuring a hare-brained inventor with delusions of getting rich.
I am glad to see that the justices seem to understand this.
Our current IP legal landscape has unexpected side effects– a very profitable business model is to set up a completely functionless entity which acquires and hoards vague patents (such as software/business model patents). They then look for existing, successful business models which those patents might apply to and file a suit in the eastern district of Texas which is known as “the rocket docket.”
When buying patents with the sole purpose of bringing infringement suits is a viable business model, you know we have a problem. The answer lies in REDUCING intellectual property rights, NOT expanding them!
Shameless grab from Slashdot:
Roberts surmised that ‘buy low, sell high’ might be a patentable business method, Sotomayor wondered if speed-dating could be patentable, Breyer questioned whether a professor could patent a lesson plan that kept his students from falling asleep, and Scalia brought up the old-time radio soap opera Lorenzo Jones, featuring a hare-brained inventor with delusions of getting rich.