Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2012 21:48:30 +0200 From: Polytropon <freebsd@edvax.de> To: David Brodbeck <gull@gull.us> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Patent hit - MS goes after Linux - FreeBSD ? Message-ID: <20120806214830.27efcf77.freebsd@edvax.de> In-Reply-To: <CAHhngE3pu6tDZ2D8kvi3O3vitDUxf4MjDUnpbVJ%2BDDnOr9CHWQ@mail.gmail.com> References: <20120805045800.29444.qmail@joyce.lan> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1208051330090.21508@wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> <20510.27576.562781.36878@jerusalem.litteratus.org> <20120805093320.7b7f0fc4@scorpio> <20120805214321.17a02e43@papi> <20120806081638.1033190a@scorpio> <20120806183717.ed53868f.steve@sohara.org> <CAHhngE3pu6tDZ2D8kvi3O3vitDUxf4MjDUnpbVJ%2BDDnOr9CHWQ@mail.gmail.com>
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On Mon, 6 Aug 2012 19:08:19 +0000, David Brodbeck wrote: > Now, it's reasonable to argue that in some fields the duration of that > limited monopoly is too long, given how quickly technology advances, > but that doesn't mean the concept isn't sound. It's also debatable if one of today's most prominent use of patents is fair: "I tell you! I have patents! You are infringing! I'm not gonna tell you which patents about what, but I'll sue all your users!" Of course, if such a claim enters a court, it might be verified or discarded (because it's just a claim, nothing applicable). In order not to "risk" a lawsuit, it seems that spreading FUD is often the more profitable way of using patents: "I told you! I have patents! But if you pay me $$$, maybe I won't sue you and your users. Maybe... but now PAY!!!" -- Polytropon Magdeburg, Germany Happy FreeBSD user since 4.0 Andra moi ennepe, Mousa, ...
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