$400 Million IP Experiment Making Some Nervous

BrianWCarver writes "IP Law & Business shines the spotlight on Intellectual Ventures, the IP start-up founded in 2000 by former Microsoft chief technologist Nathan Myhrvold. According to some estimates, Intellectual Ventures has amassed 3,000-5,000 patents, with the help of a $400 million investment from some of the biggest technology companies, including Nokia, Intel, Apple, Sony, and Microsoft. As the patent stockpile grows, so does the speculation--and the fear. IP lawyers and tech executives worry that Intellectual Ventures is less interested in changing the world with big ideas, and more focused on becoming an über patent troll, wreaking litigation havoc across industries with its patents."

I knew I should have patented...

[jjsaul]

I knew I should have patented the idea of patent-trolling. Dang.

Some kids grow up to be trolls

[Anonymous Coward]

Some kids want to be doctors when they grow up
Some kids want to be air force pilots
Some kids want to be computer scientists (that's what I told my grade 1 teacher)
And finally,
Some kids want to be "uber patent trolls" I guess

IV

[certel]

Wow. That's an interesting view on a company receiving that much in funding. I could be worried too. Who can justify that many patents? Is the IP protocol really worth that many patents?

I want to be a scientist know...

[TubeSteak]

Last January a dozen of the world's most respected scientists gathered in a nondescript conference room at an office building outside of Seattle. They sat around a table cluttered with laptops and papers, snacked on bowls of beef jerky and Chex Mix

Beef jerky and Chex Mix?
Sign me up!

obligatory...

[mayhemt]

message from big companies:
All your base are belong to us...

In soviet russia, parents patent you.

Re:why would they do that?

[guet]

niché : a clichéd niche?

Hold that thought

[HotBBQ]

From TFA

'They can't be screwing around with a bunch of ideas for that long,'

Why not? I've been screwing around with the idea of screwing around with multiple hot chicks since I can remember. Wish I could get a patent on that.

Re:Hold that thought

[Eccles]

Why not? I've been screwing around with the idea of screwing around with multiple hot chicks since I can remember. Wish I could get a patent on that.

Now that's one case where I really wish I had prior art...

Re:I want to be a scientist know...

[Anonymous Coward]

Perhaps first we should brush up on our English.

Re:I knew I should have patented...

[kimvette]

I regret to inform you, PCeye, that you are in violation of patent 1,521,271 "Method for whining about the patent situation" which I filed on July 22, 1998. You have 30 minutes to cease and desist violating my intellectual property, or you may opt to negotiate a license for continuing using my method. You may contact me at [e-mail]