Looks like the big A is getting sued again by unscrupulous lawyers again. I mean c’mon give them a break guys. What’s with going around scouting for big companies who might have incorporated a small portion of a design which was patented before and using the opportunity to make some big bucks? These are nothing but the “patent trolls” of the legal world. I have the least respect for them as they are just slimy opportunists waiting to take advantage of bigger firms. They either arm twist these companies to pay them out or get them to pay some kind of royalty or licensing fees.

I know I’m no lawyer but there has to be a line drawn between legal issues and common sense. Patents were filed to protect intellectual property and not to use it as a vehicle to make some quick money. A person’s intelligence is not tangible like a product and hence a patent is necessary to safeguard it. But at the same time there are quite a number of products which might use a small portion of the patent somewhere in the design out of necessity. This should not be considered an infringement as the final product might not be doing the exact same thing as the patent that was filed.

I know this is a web of confusion when it comes to handling the legal aspects of it but something must be done soon to preserve the sanity of big cash rich companies such as Apple. A good patent system should not be a hindrance to development of innovation! Otherwise we might as well be better off with a system such as one in China where there is no system to protect the IP of any company or individual. What’s your thoughts?

Via TUAW

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