Lodsys is the new Psystar it seems.
Psystar was a joke that mildly threatened Apple's bottom line. Lodsys could actually hurt someone enough to put them out of business (small developers).
Lodsys is the new Psystar it seems.
This is true, although it isn't quite as easy as preventing these companies from existing. There are also valid companies where their goal is to help the small guy get their patent searched, filed, and find a suitable company who can fully develop the idea. In this case, the company helping the little guy is doing the same thing (making money off licensing/buying/selling patents), but with potentially more responsibility. Do we want to disrupt that part of the market as well?
Unfortunately, the timescales of patents today doesn't quite keep up with the scale of development, which means patents can cause trouble quite a ways down the road more than they did in say, 1880. That's one reason why companies like Lodsys can exist. I'd say if you want to attack this sort of patent troll, you want to shorten the length of patents and erode their ability to profit off the older, cheaper patents.
Apple Ninja Lawyers deployed in 3....2...1...
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Patent holding firm Lodsys today published a series of blog posts revealing that the company has filed suit against App Store developers, accelerating its efforts to extract licensing fees from developers for using in app purchases and upgrade links in their App Store applications. Lodsys had given developers 21 days to negotiate a license before filing suit, but the firm appears to have initiated lawsuits early in order to thwart Apple's efforts to back the developers.Lodsys has also disputed Apple's assertion that developers are "undeniably licensed" for the technology by virtue of an existing licensing arrangement between Apple and Lodsys.Simultaneous to the blog posting, Lodsys says that is has sent a detailed legal response to Apple, which it has invited the company to publish in its entirety.
Finally, Lodsys has announced that will reimburse any developer improperly targeted by an infringement notice $1,000 for their troubles, suggesting that firm is confident in its standing and convinced that it will prevail.
Article Link: Lodsys Responds to Apple, Files Lawsuits Against App Developers
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/31/lodsys-responds-to-apple-files-lawsuits-against-app-developers/
$1000 doesn't show confidence, it actually shows quite the opposite.
"We'll reimburse you $100,000 for your troubles" shows you're the gambling type. "We'll reimburse you $1 million" shows confidence.
Anything less than that is just for show, but low enough that they don't risk fighting lawyers willing to work on contingency...
Why bother? It'd be cheaper for Apple to just buy Lodsys outright.
I agree. If they sued 7 developers, then their downside is $7k. This is merely to show they are being "reasonable" and the negative press is unwarranted. Frankly, why do they care if they are a patent troll - that's what is odd. Maybe they are hoping this goes to trial and these actions could sway a jury?
This is the single part of your post I disagree with: Lodsys' focus has never been to sue Apple, especially in an "only" fashion. They have been pretty consistent in going after the App Makers. Why would they sue Apple when Apple is already licensed for this patent?If they had a case they wouldn't have so quickly changed tactics and kept their focus only on suing Apple.
Why bother? It'd be cheaper for Apple to just buy Lodsys outright.
Pays 1000 if it turns out they were wrong to sue? they must be very confident...
I think its a front. If they were so confident then why did they push the court dates up?
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Lodsys is the new Psystar it seems.
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Apple (Lodsys) are suing Samsung (developers) over patent infringement.
You cheer for Apple yet want Lodsys dead.
Fanboy much?
One of the firms of lawyers used for the suing is from Seattle, where the previous owner of the pater are (Intellectual Ventures). And we all know which company have office around there... Maybe Lodsys is just being used as a proxy for another company that want to make trouble to their enemies/competitors.