[YBA] i4i vs MS?

[geoffrey mendelson]

On Aug 13, 2009, at 1:27 PM, Danny Lieberman wrote:

> Shachar
>
> Read Patent Failure by Besson and Meuer - software patents are a net  
> economic negative - ie the cost to write, issue and enforce is  
> greater than the economic benefit.
>
> This is in comparison with pharma and chemical industries where  
> patents have a net economic positive balance - ie profit from  
> patents outweighs cost


It's pure speculation. Not only did they not IMHO make their case,  
they never cited any real facts of economic benefit/loss. They also  
discounted which seems to be a running theme, any value that honest  
people will not knowingly infringe even if it means dropping a product  
or licensing the patened technology before they start.

They also discounted the profit from licensed software that was  
patented such as CD's, DVD's, Ethernet, Token Ring, etc. Imagine what  
would have happened if the VoIP patents had actually been applied to  
all VoIP? How much money would VocalTech be making?

Geoff.

-- 
geoffrey mendelson N3OWJ/4X1GM
Jerusalem Israel geoffreymendelson at gmail.com