Do You Think Google is Right in its Stance Against Patent Trolls?
I somehow feel I don’t need to ask our reader base this question, but I’m curious anyway – what do you think about Google’s stance against patents and the recent lawsuits they’ve incurred because of them? We clearly want what’s best for Android, and I’m sure a majority of us are hoping for patent reform sometime this decade.
I’m still wondering if there is anyone out there who feels Google’s in the wrong, though. As much as I don’t like today’s patent system, it’s a legal entity for individuals and corporations to protect their assets and no amount of distaste for it will exempt anyone, even Google, from following the law.
Even then, anti-trust concerns have always taken precedence over legal rights and processes, which is why the judicial sect of our government scrutinizes many high-profile transactions each and every year.
Personally, I’m on Google’s side. No one had a problem until Android began kicking them into the ground and their competitors have clearly come together to try and knock them off of a throne they fear Google will have for quite some time.
Considering the members of the consortium attempting to buy up all of these patents (including successful purchases of Nortel’s and Novell’s patents) are all direct competitors of Google’s in the mobile space, I’d say they have pretty good reason to be upset.
With the advent of technology, the patent landscape has changed tremendously since its arrival. The system was installed at a time where innovation was truly prevalent and where companies responsible for those inventions only wanted to use the patents to protect their inventions.
Now, individuals and companies lay in the wait, hoping to capitalize on successful ventures that could only be because of the patents they hold. They refuse to innovate on their own, and instead will prefer to wait for someone else to do the ground work so they can come in and yank the rug from beneath them.
I’m sure Google’s not the only firm infringing on all of these patents, but they and their partners are the only ones being forced into expensive and headache-inducing legal battles.
Thankfully, they certainly will get the spotlight they’re asking for. Do you think they’re wrong for being upset and against this? Do you think they and their OEMs should have properly researched the technology they were using before going ahead?
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