I've been thinking about all this patent stuff and have an observation to make...
Remember how Webfather built an empire on .com domains? He used to spend hours each day "down the mines". So effective was he that many companies decided they simply couldn't do business without one of his domains. So, for a price, they would acquire the domain and then go on to do good business, and Rick would buy another car ; )
It seems to me there's a parallel whereby patent companies register as many patents as they can hoping to license just a few of them to make their money. Some companies will decide they cannot do business without one of these patents and will license it and go on to do good business.
Now, of course, when you were NOT THE FIRST to invent something (as many people believe Acacia wasn't) then you should lose your patent. But if you validly got awarded a patent trhen why not make some money from it? Even if it's something as obnoxious as Amazon's 1 click purchase system. So far it appears to be standing for them - and if nobody else defeats their claim? Well, they could license it (although I bhelieve that has not happened yet).
So the moral of this story? If you have an idea, patent it. You may be able to license it or sell the patent later.
... I guess you can't blame Acacia for trying.
BTW This is not a post supporting Acacia's case - Personally I think there's far too much prior art - so I hope they lose thier patent.
- Frank
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