Patent troll to sue Linden Lab, Blizzard(washingtonpost.com)
washingtonpost.com
Patent troll to sue Linden Lab, Blizzard
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031103650.html
5 comments
What were those 'patents' for?
innovation protection?
yeah, right.
I really hope software patents are not introduced in Europe.
innovation protection?
yeah, right.
I really hope software patents are not introduced in Europe.
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...
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.
Couldn't Blizzard argue Prior Art due to MUD's and MUSH's, thus simply nullifying the patent troll's position?
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)