OT: eBay being sued over patent infringement (et al)

From: Wayne M. Smith <wmsmith_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Fri Apr 25 03:15:00 2003

> On Thu, 24 Apr 2003, Brian Chase wrote:
>
> > I'm very happy with the service eBay offers to sellers and buyers;
> > it's a great business idea and they've executed it very well, IMHO,
> > but I've little sympathy for their situation. What goes
> around comes
> > around.
>
> That's mainly the problem with the patent system today. It's
> used primarily as a tool to thwart competition, rather than
> foster innovation.
>

In my experience, its primary use is as a shakedown device to extract
royalty payments. The idea is not to actually thwart competition, but
to threaten it enough that accused infringers, fearing an injunction,
capitulate and pay a royalty.
Received on Fri Apr 25 2003 - 03:15:00 BST