Sun, 26 Apr 2009

Apple fined $19m in 'Predictive Snooping' case

If you wonder why Apple, M$, IBM and other huge corporations file what appear to be the silliest of patents, look no further. Their claim: "It's self defense!" And to a large extent, as this suit shows, they're right!

But of course, once filed and granted, defensive patents begin to look like serious money in the bank to corporate lawyers. So more suits are filed, and the whole spiral descends another level.

If we can't effect reform soon, we're going to be in a place where everything is somebody's "intellectual property", and nothing can be done without paying someone for the privilege of doing it.

Apple has been ordered to pay $19m in damages after losing a patent infringement case which its lawyers hoped might only cost the firm $270,000.

(link) [The Register]

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