Software developer? There's a licence for that...

Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!

You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

alreadypacked replied

7 October 2011, 12:18
Apple legal issued a response to Lodsys, the firm trying to shake down iOS developers by forcing them to pay to license patents for in-app purchases. Apple's 900 word missive can basically be summarized in two words: Get lost.

Apple to iOS Patent Troll: Get Lost
Leave a comment:
PAH replied

7 October 2011, 12:07
Originally posted by Churchill View Post

Well to be fair, a lot of companies charge a license fee for their devkits etc.

Does that mean that anything produced with those kits (and Visual Studio etc) come with a free Patent Troll Guard?

They way I see it is you can patent the concept of Meccano but not anything built with it. So software development is no different, it's just a way of re-arranging a set of previously defined functions and features.

If it's possible to patent software interfaces (as with Amazon's One Click), maybe someone needs to provide a website where developers can detail their ideas to prove prior art against scum trying to profit from patenting them and licencing to others.
Leave a comment:
Churchill replied

7 October 2011, 11:40
Well to be fair, a lot of companies charge a license fee for their devkits etc.
Leave a comment:
doodab replied

7 October 2011, 11:34
I'm surprised nobody has patented patent trolling
Leave a comment:
Churchill replied

7 October 2011, 11:33
Originally posted by PAH View Post

Looks like the patent trolls, supported by Google, are going down the road of patenting software features and interface design so they can charge people licence fees:

BBC News - Patent war hits small app developers

BBC News - Motorola sued over patents used in Android phones

Muppets.

Before anyone presses their FOAD button, I've patented it.

I think you'll find that you've infringed a couple of trademarks there...

Plus I've patented the use of multiple pictograms to relate a story/convey a complex set of emotions.

See you in court!
Leave a comment:
PAH started a topic Software developer? There's a licence for that...

7 October 2011, 11:28
Software developer? There's a licence for that...

Looks like the patent trolls, supported by Google, are going down the road of patenting software features and interface design so they can charge people licence fees:

BBC News - Patent war hits small app developers

For each patent that they offer to license, the Texan company "is seeking 0.575% of US revenue (all income is in principle generated in the US because Android and iOS app stores are both registered there) over for the period of the notice letter to the expiration of the patent (they have a duration of 20 years), plus applicable past usage", as set out in Lodsys blog.

BBC News - Motorola sued over patents used in Android phones

Motorola is being sued in a patent row by a company partly bankrolled by Google - which wants to buy Motorola.

Muppets.

Before anyone presses their FOAD button, I've patented it.
Tags: None