http://www.blackberrycool.com/2008/08/12/wi-lan-and-rim-settle-patent-dispute/ The voice of the BlackBerry community. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://www.blackberrycool.com/2008/08/12/wi-lan-and-rim-settle-patent-dispute/comment-page-1/#comment-311311 Industry - The Week in IP - 9 Aug - 15 Aug 2008. « Great Domain Name - An Invention and Intellectual Property Blog. Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:22:34 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/?p=8100#comment-311311 [...] Cool reports that the dispute between Ottawa-based Wi-LAN and RIM over some CDMA and Wi-Fi patents in late June [...] [...] Cool reports that the dispute between Ottawa-based Wi-LAN and RIM over some CDMA and Wi-Fi patents in late June [...]

]]> http://www.blackberrycool.com/2008/08/12/wi-lan-and-rim-settle-patent-dispute/comment-page-1/#comment-310648 Jim Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:15:42 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/?p=8100#comment-310648 Generally, a "troll" is considered to be a non-producing entity that buys up patents with the sole purpose of creating licensing revenue. They are distinguished from producing entities because the producing entities will frequently wind up in a cross-licensing situation with other producing entities, thus resulting in little actual capital outlay on either company's part while, at the same time, ensuring access to desired technologies. A non-producing entity, by contrast, doesn't have the same motivation to settle - if they know they have the infringer "dead to rights", then they can exact an exhorbitant fee. I don't disagree with George, either. Trolls actually represent an economically efficient solution to patent enforcement. Some don't just buy intellectual property at bankruptcy sales, either - some are actively in the business of promoting enforcement campaigns for the "little guys", and will even give them a decent cut considering the risks. There are some "reputable" (if you can use that term) trolls out there, who are known for doing their homework before buying a patent or portfolio, and letters from them are very unnerving for accused infringers. Like George said, the companies can't afford to ignore the little guys any more when they have deeper pockets behind them. Generally, a “troll” is considered to be a non-producing entity that buys up patents with the sole purpose of creating licensing revenue. They are distinguished from producing entities because the producing entities will frequently wind up in a cross-licensing situation with other producing entities, thus resulting in little actual capital outlay on either company’s part while, at the same time, ensuring access to desired technologies. A non-producing entity, by contrast, doesn’t have the same motivation to settle – if they know they have the infringer “dead to rights”, then they can exact an exhorbitant fee. I don’t disagree with George, either. Trolls actually represent an economically efficient solution to patent enforcement. Some don’t just buy intellectual property at bankruptcy sales, either – some are actively in the business of promoting enforcement campaigns for the “little guys”, and will even give them a decent cut considering the risks. There are some “reputable” (if you can use that term) trolls out there, who are known for doing their homework before buying a patent or portfolio, and letters from them are very unnerving for accused infringers. Like George said, the companies can’t afford to ignore the little guys any more when they have deeper pockets behind them.

]]> http://www.blackberrycool.com/2008/08/12/wi-lan-and-rim-settle-patent-dispute/comment-page-1/#comment-490768 Jim Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:15:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/?p=8100#comment-490768 Generally, a "troll" is considered to be a non-producing entity that buys up patents with the sole purpose of creating licensing revenue. They are distinguished from producing entities because the producing entities will frequently wind up in a cross-licensing situation with other producing entities, thus resulting in little actual capital outlay on either company's part while, at the same time, ensuring access to desired technologies. A non-producing entity, by contrast, doesn't have the same motivation to settle - if they know they have the infringer "dead to rights", then they can exact an exhorbitant fee. I don't disagree with George, either. Trolls actually represent an economically efficient solution to patent enforcement. Some don't just buy intellectual property at bankruptcy sales, either - some are actively in the business of promoting enforcement campaigns for the "little guys", and will even give them a decent cut considering the risks. There are some "reputable" (if you can use that term) trolls out there, who are known for doing their homework before buying a patent or portfolio, and letters from them are very unnerving for accused infringers. Like George said, the companies can't afford to ignore the little guys any more when they have deeper pockets behind them. Generally, a “troll” is considered to be a non-producing entity that buys up patents with the sole purpose of creating licensing revenue. They are distinguished from producing entities because the producing entities will frequently wind up in a cross-licensing situation with other producing entities, thus resulting in little actual capital outlay on either company’s part while, at the same time, ensuring access to desired technologies. A non-producing entity, by contrast, doesn’t have the same motivation to settle – if they know they have the infringer “dead to rights”, then they can exact an exhorbitant fee. I don’t disagree with George, either. Trolls actually represent an economically efficient solution to patent enforcement. Some don’t just buy intellectual property at bankruptcy sales, either – some are actively in the business of promoting enforcement campaigns for the “little guys”, and will even give them a decent cut considering the risks. There are some “reputable” (if you can use that term) trolls out there, who are known for doing their homework before buying a patent or portfolio, and letters from them are very unnerving for accused infringers. Like George said, the companies can’t afford to ignore the little guys any more when they have deeper pockets behind them.

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