this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2024
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293
Open source fights back: 'We won't get patent-trolled again' (www.zdnet.com)
submitted 1 week ago by mox@lemmy.sdf.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 107 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Tldr, to help fight patent trolls:

They're asking you to find evidence of preexisting technology -- referred to by patent lawyers as "prior art" -- that can kill off bad patents. This could be open-source documentation (including release notes), published standards or specifications, product manuals, articles, blogs, books, or any publicly available information.

They use this info to essentially undercut and invalidate the patent trolls' filing, killing their ability to file suit on that patent again.

There's also a contest with a $3000 prize for anyone who can help kill a current one on their plate.

https://patroll.unifiedpatents.com/contests/s3vQkRdTC6coNkjyx

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It sounds like they need proof that this tech existed before 2013? I'm new to patents.. how does this evidence kill the patent?

[–] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 14 points 1 week ago

Can't file a patent on something that someone else already made.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 63 points 1 week ago

Another way to help: If you have an idea that someone could possibly patent, no matter how stupid you think it is, you can publish a defensive technical disclosure on tdcommons for free https://www.tdcommons.org/

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Imagine a society where people who generate value have to waste their energy fighting these shit stains.

Congress wont do their jobs lol

[–] Odelay42@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Counterpoint: congress does their jobs exactly how their corporate owners want them to. Congress does not serve the best interests of the people.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 6 points 1 week ago

most normies aint ready for this reality, but you aint wrong.

if we take facts based approach, ie just look at what they do, not what they say, this conclusion is self-evident.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago

Maybe crowdsource hitmen.

[–] JoYo@lemmy.ml 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

if you are known to look at patents then you become a target of patent trolls.

i advise good OPSEC.

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

OPSEC "operational security" is protecting yourself from harm with safe practices, study and research, and technology

[–] JoYo@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago

OPSEC Savvy Ostrich approves.

[–] canadaduane@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I love this approach.

Nit: "If you can find prior art that describes such a system before June 13, 2013, you could be a winner." ... 2013 is a typo I'm guessing?

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago

That’s not the submission deadline, that’s the priority date for this particular patent, basically when it was first filed. If people can find other published information describing what the patent covers that predates the filing it would help invalidate the patent.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

Somebody call Lee Cheng

[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 6 points 1 week ago

How about we work to change how the patent office operates? I think it's ridiculous you can get a patent for a thing that doesn't actually fucking exist, among many other really stupid things they approve or deny.