27 Apr
2003
27 Apr
'03
7:50 a.m.
On Friday, April 25, 2003, Wayne M. Smith wrote:
In my experience, its [patent system] primary use is
as a shakedown device
to extract royalty payments. The idea is not to actually thwart
competition, but to threaten it enough that accused infringers, fearing an
injunction, capitulate and pay a royalty.
There is a neat little business process in use today by a few corps. I call
it the Rambus method:
1. Hire some lawyers
2. Get some illegitimate patents
3. Deceive lots of people
4. Profit!!!
I wonder if any company has tried to patent the process, and if so, if the
company's employees had any idea of the irony.
--
Jeffrey Sharp