Re: [Patents] Cross licensing strategy of big firms

["Gérald Sédrati-Dinet (gibus)" <gibus@ffii.fr>]

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Bernard Lang a écrit :
> 
> great quote ... I love it
> 
> why patenting is little threat to large companies, and hell for small
> ones.  \ Of course they still have the risk from patent sharks, who do
> not produce anything and prey on industries that do.


Sure, and Robert Barr was perfectly raising this problem in the 2002 FTC
hearings (complete text can be found on
http://www.ftc.gov/opp/intellect/barrrobert.doc):

"Moreover, stockpiling patents does not really solve the problem of
unintentional patent infringement through independent development. If we
are accused of infringement by a patent holder who does not make and
sell products, or who sells in much smaller volume than we do, our
patents do not have sufficient value to the other party to deter a
lawsuit or reduce the amount of money demanded by the other company.
Thus, rather than rewarding innovation, the patent system penalizes
innovative companies who successfully bring new products to the
marketplace and it subsidizes or  rewards those who fail to do so."

I've written something on this 2 years ago, translating Barr's quotes,
and pointing dangers of patents trolls/sharks for big enterprises:
http://www.ffii.fr/Grandes-entreprises-europeennes-et-brevets-logiciels
- --
Gérald Sédrati-Dinet
Président de la FFII France
http://www.ffii.fr/

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