On the other hand, patent wars are also seen as having negative impacts on our society because
smaller companies are obviously hit harder in the turmoil which ultimately
eliminates choices for consumers and keeps the tech giants in power. I recently
spoke to a Marketing VP at a brand new start up and he discussed how a larger
tech company just started using their patented idea. He told me that they are
currently going to court to resolve the issue. However, it will take years for
them to win the dispute. The bigger company is fine with or without the
innovation, while the start up desperately needs the new platform model to gain
headway against its competitors.
I found Eric Schmidt’s opinions quite interesting.
While in Korea
promoting Nexus 7, he stated that "patent wars prevent choice [and]
prevent innovation." And added that "[Google is] obviously working
through that and trying to make sure we stay on the right side of these issues”
(http://www.techradar.com/us/news/phone-and-communications/googles-schmidt-says-patent-wars-are-bad-for-innovation-1100375).
However, I think this is a very interesting position for Google to take as they
own and buy patents all the time. Their products violate tons of patents from
Apple and Microsoft and if another company were to use their patents they would
go to court, as they have done many times in the past. For example this past
October, Google was sued over its Google Wallet smartphone application. In august 2012, CNN reported that Steve Jobs was
fighting Google for supposedly ripping off the iPhone. They have sued multiple
Android phone and tablet manufacturers around the world. In response Google,
struck back, suing Apple for the same thing. Ultimately another argument is that these patent wars are distracting innovators from what is truly important.
I understand Eric Schmidt's statement on how patents can prevent innovations. Reading all these different articles on patents, I feel like there needs to be some type of reform to the system.
ReplyDeleteApparently there has been some push for reform. This article discusses a patent reform bill but this article is from 2011 so either it didn't work or it was never enforced. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/16/patent-reform-obama_n_966136.html
DeleteApparently there has been some push for reform. This article discusses a patent reform bill but this article is from 2011 so either it didn't work or it was never enforced. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/16/patent-reform-obama_n_966136.html
DeleteDo you believe that the U.S. government should step in to regulate the smartphone patent industry, just as it sued Microsoft on grounds of monopolist actions? It seems like companies such as Apple and Google are perceived as abusively hoarding patents and stifling competition and innovation.
DeleteNowadays, patent has become ammunition of corporate giants. They do mergers and acquisitions for the patents the smaller player own. They leverage every patent law in the book to stifle competitions. The only way to protect yourself is to have enough of patent ammunition, and counter-sue the competition.
ReplyDeleteI think Mr.Schmidt is just covering his bases. In truth , this system in self perpetuating. If Google did not protect its assets, it would be run over inevitably and would not exist anymore. To prevent patent wars, a systematic legal change is necessary.
ReplyDeleteSomething needs to be done about big corporation taking advantage of smaller companies' patents. By the time the case id done the corp. would have made all its money and have no problem paying any settlement fines. Plus, the article mentioned that the rules of patent infringement help bring prices down, but wouldn't it bring prices up if they are the most innovative designer of a product.
ReplyDelete