








The suit was filed by




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RE: Wait what?
By JasonMick (blog) on 12/4/2007 1:18:58 PM , Rating: 3
Well of course now there are many patents for different design/features/aspects/services of PDAs. But Klausner is pretty cool in that he invented the idea and was the first one to get a patent on it, and by far, got the most general patent on it, which put a lot of cash in his pocket.

Remember, when the automobile was invented there wasn't as aggressive patent seeking as there is now. If the auto was invented now, everyone and their brother would be racing to patent it. My money would be on NTP getting the patent ;)

RE: Wait what?
By Wightout on 12/4/2007 4:09:25 PM , Rating: 3
I dont really know what the idea of patenting ambition has to do with anything here. If the system isn't working to benefit inventors and further technology then I think it should be changed. The idea that someone can make a business out of filing patents and suing people who come up with a similar idea is just plain stupid.

I think it was IBM who is currently trying to Patent patenting. This whole thing is just stupid.

My personal opinion is that you should not be given a patent on an idea, until you are making it into a reality. Patenting an idea is just absurd.

I should go out and start patenting housemaid type robots, moving sidewalks, and pneumatic people movers, not to mention every other thing i saw in the Jetsons.

Most of these patents have a less detailed dwg then the dwgs of X-Wings and Tie Fighters from the Star Wars books that have the guts and inside mechanisms all defined and laid out... le sigh.

just my $0.02 and then some...

RE: Wait what?
3) Availability and ease of applying alternative workarounds to the patent
4) Market share of the product the patent is used in


RE: Wait what?
By Treckin on 12/4/2007 6:41:37 PM , Rating: 3


That defies the entire point of the patent system, which is to allow the 'little guy' some defense against the huge manufacturing potential of the large corporations.

Although now, what we get is the damn capitalizing of the IP market, as it costs thousands and thousands of dollars to get comprehensive patent coverage on an idea. Essentially, large IP law firms are undoing the original intent of the entire system.

Im going through this right now-- I developed a poppet-valveless cylinder head for ICE's, but it will cost me somewhere around 20,000 dollars to file for comprehensive coverage.

All i can do is sit and prey.

RE: Wait what?
By theapparition on 12/5/2007 8:35:42 AM , Rating: 3
Treckin's completely correct.

As a holder of over a dozen patents myself, I can attest to the cost required to file and defend them, something the average "little guy" can't do. Many of my original designs are no longer "mine", because to make them into reality, I had to shop the idea around to companies willing to implement them, and sell them the designs, effectively removing all ownership and future royalties. At that point in my life, there was no financial way I could have backed them myself. However, I've taken that money, and used it to back other inventions and start my own company.

While my company specializes in engineering design solutions and has quite a few patents, they are all for active designs. Companies that purchase IP, just for the sake of potential future infringements disgust me. Plain and simple.

Now, you can still protect yourself from future infringements/lawsuits. The key is documentation. If you can prove that you originally came up with the idea before the patent holder, the patent can get invalidated. Once again, have deep pockets and be prepared for a fight, something that the "little guy" may not be able to do.

If you ever look up the story of Dyson, you'll find that he was just an inventor. He thought of a way to make a vacuum without bags. He approached several vendors, and all scoffed at him due to the recurring income of bags they brought in (sound like ink cartridges???). He still thought it was a good idea, and tried to make it himself. Hoover specifically held everything he did in legal challenges and virtually bankrupted him before finally he finally won. And with that, became one of the largest vacuum manufacturers in the UK in a year. But it was a long road that many wouldn't have the stomach for. For every "Dyson like" success, I bet there's 100 failures.

Now, tell me more about valveless heads..... :P

RE: Wait what?
By Ryanman on 12/9/2007 6:03:46 PM , Rating: 1
My god. The only part of this article I remember is that this "invention" is one of the greatest mankind has ever seen. I've never seen a bigger pile in text my entire life


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