While the brew-haha over Microsoft's latest patent lawsuit is decidedly not a news story (also see Slashdot), I did learn more about the absurd nature of software patent law.
Obviously a very broken system in need of repair. But in the meantime it keeps many a patent attorney and IT tabloid reporter employed. :)
How stupid is that? The image I have in my mind when I read these stories about software patent litigation is that of pin-stripe suited lawyers in imaginary WWI trenches lobbing big paper stacks across to the others trenches. "Take that! That's my patent!" "Boom! Here comes my patent right back at you!" :)In fact, searching for potential patent problems can actually leave a company financially exposed: if a lawsuit concludes a patent was infringed, a company or individual that knew about the potential infringement must pay triple the financial damages compared with an unknowing infringement.
"The fear of willfulness is so great that often firms instruct their engineers not to look at patents," (from CNET)
Obviously a very broken system in need of repair. But in the meantime it keeps many a patent attorney and IT tabloid reporter employed. :)
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