NY Times Seems To Recognize That Nokia's Patent Fights Have Nothing To Do With Innovation
from the it's-just-a-big-pissing-match dept
When Nokia first sued Apple for patent infringement over the iPhone, we noted that it appeared like yet another case of a company getting beat in the market suddenly whipping out some patents to sue over. This seemed to anger the usual bunch of patent system defenders -- along with a group of Nokia defenders -- but it appears that others are noticing as well. The NY Times has an article discussing Nokia's sudden aggressiveness in the patent realm, noting that the company has been facing some business troubles, and it's notable that its patent aggression seems to have shown up at just the same time as its own performance trouble. Funny that.Of course, this is a major issue. As with so many high tech areas today, there are giant patent thickets. It's effectively impossible to launch a product that doesn't violate dozens, if not hundreds, of patents. And (despite claims to the contrary) it's got absolutely nothing to do with companies "stealing" from each other. It's got plenty to do with companies making the next logical step in the innovative process, and coming up with products that meet what the market wants. But with patent offices around the world being willing to hand out patents on minor changes, it's impossible to actually build a useful product that doesn't violate patents. This has nothing to do with innovation. At this point, patents are just a weapon that can be flung against anyone who does innovate if you can't compete.
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Filed Under: patent thicket, patents, wireless
Companies: nokia
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Mike, would you care to show us exactly where the NY times says "Nokia's Patent Fights Have Nothing To Do With Innovation"? I can't see it, the word innovation only appears once in the entire article, and it isn't in relation to any of that.
Come one Mike. If you are going to beat people up for phrasing errors, can you at least admit that the NY Times isn't saying anything about innovation? Can you admit you are just adding it in because it's your opinion, not theirs?
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Mike WANTS it to talk about innovation, but it does not.
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"Nokia filed its suit against Apple more than two years after the iPhone went on sale, which, Mr. Ihrfelt said, suggested that the suit was a symbolic line in the sand."
In other words: "We're losing money now, and your phones are fetching a pretty penny, so you can't just use our stuff for free any more. Either innovate, pay up, or steal somebody else's stuff!"
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I know! When the iPhone came out, everyone was saying, "It's such a Nokia ripoff!"
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I don't think you need to look to Machiavellian motives for what Nokia are doing. The patent system allows Nokia to get a cut from the other manufacturers of GSM (and derivative) standard handsets . Why shouldn't Nokia expect to get the same from Apple? This is mature technology from decades old work - its practically money for nothing. Why wouldn't you expect Nokia to exploit the mess of a system we have to get money for nothing?
Whether Nokia are deliberately exploiting the system to hold apple back doesnt really change the underlying problem: The patent system is broken. The outcomes it encourages are clearly counter to the original intent. The system needs to be reformed.
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So they had two years to develop an competing phone, and did jack squat. Yeah, that's impressive.
"Whether Nokia are deliberately exploiting the system to hold apple back doesnt really change the underlying problem: The patent system is broken. The outcomes it encourages are clearly counter to the original intent. The system needs to be reformed."
Um, yeah, I'm agreeing with the last part. The first part is the entire problem.
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No, they spent two years trying to get the 'innovative' Apple to actually pay for the technology that Nokia had patented.
Finally, they did what most patent holders do to users of unlicensed technology - sue.
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Maybe they should have been working on their crappy phones.
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How exactly does this invalidate my inclination to believe that Nokia tried to negotiate first?
Nokia are playing the game by the rules the same as everyone else - Apple included. The problem isnt Nokia, its the rules.
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I truthfully believe that since Apple gets away with absolute travesty with DRM and its locked down systems (not to mention eye gouging prices!), it would try and huddle and scuttle out of paying Nokia patent rights.
Also, if Nokia was doing this just for the money in a time of hardship, wouldn't they bombard every other manufacturer that is new the field? Cough.. HTC.
Lets face it, no one knows the facts for sure, and I absolutely don't; however, there is good reason in my mind to to say that this might be one of the few valid cases.
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Ericsson and Nokia built the current GSM standard along with the hardware and technology.
They both deserve credit where credit is due.
Fuck Apple if they don't want to play by the rules
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nokia trying to cash
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innovate/copy
If your "competitor" is using your invention that means they did not innovate -they copied.
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