This Is What A Patent Thicket Looks Like [Updated]

from the visualization-works dept

A couple weeks ago, we asked if any smartphone could survive the patent thicket. In the last few months there has been a ton of lawsuits (and ITC filings) over smartphones supposedly violating patents. And since that post was written a few more lawsuits were filed as well. It's patent nuclear war breaking out in the smartphone space, and the end result is that we, the public, all suffer. Lots of money is being spent on lawsuits, and that could have gone into better development and giving us more features, better prices and better service.

Of course, while I described this in words, sometimes, as the cliche goes, a picture is worth a lot more. Thanks to Nick Bilton at the NY Times for putting together that picture (see update below) that shows what the patent thicket in the smartphone space looks like:
That's a picture of a patent thicket, and it's a picture of waste that does the exact opposite of promoting innovation.

Update: Unfortunately, it looks like Bilton may have exaggerated a bit. Joe Mullin looks through the details and notices that some of the lawsuits appear totally unrelated to the smartphone space. As he notes, there are plenty of smartphone patent lawsuits to go around, but there's no need to exaggerate them.
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Filed Under: patent thicket, patents, smartphones


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  1. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:26am

    They're just trying to gain additional revenue streams to fund the R&D department. They just neglect to disclose the Legal dept has been reclassified as R&D.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    NAMELESS.ONE, 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:28am

    its quite easy to see

    how yu can argue that patents dont help innovation as once one person has htem it becomes extortion on all others even if they lived on aremote island away form all and invented somehting simular

    thats not what was intended and until the planet gets past this insanity we wont progress.

    GO ahead look at 70's tv for issues that they had , now look at today , anyhting changed? NOPE

    ya might say its worse as we have a lot less freedoms and rights

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. icon
    crade (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:32am

    Who ever thought it would help progress if companies who want to build new things can't use existing technology.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Ryan, 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:35am

    It's like a lawyer's wet dream.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:40am

    All of that, and yet each of those companies has turned out tons of new and innovative products. Obviously, innovation has been entirely stopped by patents.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    Ryan, 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:44am

    Re:

    Yes, I'm certain that all the hundreds of millions(billions?) of dollars spent on lawsuits would not have translated into any more innovation, so why not just flush it down the toilet? Good call.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Who Needs Facts?, 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:45am

    Re:

    This is what an invalid software patent looks like.

    In case you didn't notice, none of the manufacturers are pushing for software patents to be invalidated, because they all have hundreds if not thousands of their own software patents.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. icon
    johnjac (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:46am

    Cisco and Palm

    I thought Cisco dispute was over Trademark not copyright

    How is Palm managing to stay out of all this?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. icon
    Comboman (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:12am

    Re: Cisco and Palm

    That's why Cisco's circle is gray instead of orange. Palm and Apple had a war of words but no law suit so far.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. icon
    shmengie (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:16am

    weird...

    all these lawsuits, and microsoft is nowhere to be found...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. icon
    tracker1 (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:17am

    It's interesting...

    Nokia as a company has probably invested more into true R&D with physical production of product, combined with fair licensing than any other company listed (at least with regards to telephone tech, aside from maybe Motorola). I don't consider it trolling when for the most part a company has and continues to actually produce something, and is funding R&D. For the most part Nokia and others have cross licensing deals, but Nokia is leveraged into a few key areas of cellular tech that position it better on those terms.

    @johnhac, regarding Palm, my guess is they are either cross-licensing or paying off those other companies as they present themselves. Given their very early successes within the PDA space, since absorbed by the cell phone market, it's a pretty safe bet that they have a strong portfolio for cross-licensing deals as well.

    I do think that software patents are ridiculous, as are imho interface patents... But patents on physical devices, much less so. I do feel that the way technology evolves these days, patents should last for a shorter term, and copyright much shorter than it is.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. icon
    william (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:23am

    At lease the lawyers are happy... They are doing GREAT!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    daveM, 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:29am

    Missing?

    What is shocking even more is that Microsoft and Google are not in the thicket.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. icon
    crade (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:45am

    Re:

    You expected us to be able to bring all innovation to a standstill? I think that would probably require wiping out all life. We are probably only going to be dealing with helps and hindrances when talking about patents rather than an end of all innovation.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. icon
    AdamR (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:54am

    Re: Missing?

    Google and Microsoft dont make any of the hardware. Thats my guess.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. icon
    AdamR (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 10:01am

    Re: Re: Missing?

    No matter how this shakes out, the big winners int his will be Microsoft and Google.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    Danny, 5 Mar 2010 @ 10:10am

    Re: weird...

    I think thats only because MS (like Google) is more software than hardware when it comes to smartphones and I think this chart only covers hardware right?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Mar 2010 @ 10:19am

    "and that could have gone into better development and giving us more features, better prices and better service. "

    look on the bright side, it goes into giving lawyers higher pay.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Mar 2010 @ 10:20am

    "That's a picture of a patent thicket"

    Hey, I have a patent on that picture. You will be hearing from my lawyers soon.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Mar 2010 @ 10:57am

    Re:

    And how many startups will be willing to enter that war zone? Once the dust settles and the surviving incumbents have established their various patent pool agreements, no newcomer will have the resources to cross that barrier to entry.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Mar 2010 @ 11:17am

    Re: Re:

    Fuck consumers. They don't deserve to have companies build the best products or provide the best services for them.

    Just pretty good products and pretty good services. The rest has to go to lawyering.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. icon
    a-dub (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 11:38am

    F___ it, I'm going to law school!!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 5 Mar 2010 @ 3:38pm

    Re:

    They're doing R&D into how to use the legal system to further extort people.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  24. icon
    Pirate Hater (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:31pm

    Patent Thicket

    To the undereducated reader, a diagram like that depicted above can and does appear to be a maze of wasteful litigation on first glance, which all most readers will give it.

    But, to the real inventors of the true advances that enabled cell phone technologies and companies to even exist, that maze can probably be explained very clearly.

    To the real inventors the true advances that enabled cell phone technologies and companies to even exist, there is probably quite a bit at stake, including reputation, earnings, profits, and plain old justice.

    Those real inventors and their investors risked capital on new technologies, only to be pirated by competitors with impunity. To those real inventors and their investors, patent litigation is the only means to justice against those who would pirate their technologies.

    Patents, and patent litigation, are the means of protecting new innovation on its way to market, just like US maritime law and the US Navy protects tankers full of oil on their way to market.

    Those who try to weaken patents and patent enforcement with a wave of the hand and a scoffing remark about the wastefulness of litigation are simply trying to reduce the penalties for their misdeeds. They are trying to get away with murder.

    Those who scoff at patents as frivilous litigation tend to be the less technological types, who disrespect and devalue scientists, and want to pirate the work of scientists with impunity.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  25. icon
    Pirate Hater (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:47pm

    The Value of Patents to The Consumer

    Some patent scofflaws like to argue that patents hurt consumers, because they create monopoly pricing without competition. That is also a false argument.

    First, patents don't prevent competitors from developing competing products. A patent only protects one product. Others are always free to develop better mousetraps and sell them at lower prices.

    Second, to the extent that patents do enable a patentee to monopolize the supply chain and customers for his particular product offering, they have a cost reducing impact on that product, not a cost increasing impact, because they allow the patentee to achieve greater economies of scale in manufacturing.

    For example, if 10 different vendors split a market 10 ways, then each will only achieve an economy of scale of equal to 10% of the volume of the market for that product. If, on the other hand, the patent is respected, then the patentee can achieve a lower cost of production, because the patentee produces at 10X the volume, or 100% market share.

    In practice, the best example of the power of patents to reduce costs and make a product more available to consumers, is none other than Henry Ford. He was a prolific inventor, with 163 patents, which helped to enable him and his investors to achieve greater economies of scale in manufacturing.

    Had there been, for example, no patents at all in the early years of the auto industry, then the industry would've been extremely fragmented, and none of the companies would've been able to achieve the large market share and product volumes needed to reduce the unit cost and make autos more widely available.

    Patents give an inventor, entrepreneur, and his investors that ability to consolidate the supply chain for their product in a manner that reduces the costs of production, and makes the product more available to consumers, not less.

    And, at the same time, the other competitors are still free to develop a better mousetrap. They just can't copy the patentee's mousetrap. That's all.

    Contrary to the assertions of patent pirates and would-be pirates who want to weaken patent law, devalue the contributions of scientists and inventors, and fragment industries to the detriment of consumers and to their own personal benefit, patents are not anti-competitive, nor do they produce higher pricing in the long run.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  26. icon
    Pirate Hater (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 8:48pm

    The Value of Patents to The Consumer

    Some patent scofflaws like to argue that patents hurt consumers, because they create monopoly pricing without competition. That is also a false argument.

    First, patents don't prevent competitors from developing competing products. A patent only protects one product. Others are always free to develop better mousetraps and sell them at lower prices.

    Second, to the extent that patents do enable a patentee to monopolize the supply chain and customers for his particular product offering, they have a cost reducing impact on that product, not a cost increasing impact, because they allow the patentee to achieve greater economies of scale in manufacturing.

    For example, if 10 different vendors split a market 10 ways, then each will only achieve an economy of scale of equal to 10% of the volume of the market for that product. If, on the other hand, the patent is respected, then the patentee can achieve a lower cost of production, because the patentee produces at 10X the volume, or 100% market share.

    In practice, the best example of the power of patents to reduce costs and make a product more available to consumers, is none other than Henry Ford. He was a prolific inventor, with 163 patents, which helped to enable him and his investors to achieve greater economies of scale in manufacturing.

    Had there been, for example, no patents at all in the early years of the auto industry, then the industry would've been extremely fragmented, and none of the companies would've been able to achieve the large market share and product volumes needed to reduce the unit cost and make autos more widely available.

    Patents give an inventor, entrepreneur, and his investors that ability to consolidate the supply chain for their product in a manner that reduces the costs of production, and makes the product more available to consumers, not less.

    And, at the same time, the other competitors are still free to develop a better mousetrap. They just can't copy the patentee's mousetrap. That's all.

    Contrary to the assertions of patent pirates and would-be pirates who want to weaken patent law, devalue the contributions of scientists and inventors, and fragment industries to the detriment of consumers and to their own personal benefit, patents are not anti-competitive, nor do they produce higher pricing in the long run.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  27. icon
    Pirate Hater (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:10pm

    Patent Thicket or Pirate Cove?

    Let's not forget that most of us wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to build a cell phone. Indeed, 20 years ago, there weren't really many cellphones at all.

    There has been true innovation and invention that has enabled this industry. Of that, there can be no question.

    And, those who invented those true, enabling inventions deserve credit, respect, and strong patent rights.

    Those who violate those rights and that respect are the ones who deserve disrespect, not the inventors and their lawyers.

    To portray someone who invented, for example, an important new computer chip that advances cell phone technology as simply a 'troll' who contributes nothing but frivilous litigation to the economy is rude, to say the least, and more to the point, very disingenuous, disrespectful, and obnoxious.

    Those who seek to advance the cause of piracy by weakening patents, labeling inventors as 'trolls', and otherwise devalue the work of scientific advancement are the low lives of society, not the inventors.

    Is it any wonder that the US is falling behind in science, when smart, diligent people are bullied throughout their lives ... first in grade school, and then right on up through to their days as inventors, there are bullies out there seeking to put them down, for no reason other than lifting their own, less-skilled selves up.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  28. icon
    Pirate Hater (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:13pm

    Patent Thicket or Pirate Cove?

    Let's not forget that most of us wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to build a cell phone. Indeed, 20 years ago, there weren't really many cellphones at all.

    There has been true innovation and invention that has enabled this industry. Of that, there can be no question.

    And, those who invented those true, enabling inventions deserve credit, respect, and strong patent rights.

    Those who violate those rights and that respect are the ones who deserve disrespect, not the inventors and their lawyers.

    To portray someone who invented, for example, an important new computer chip that advances cell phone technology as simply a 'troll' who contributes nothing but frivilous litigation to the economy is rude, to say the least, and more to the point, very disingenuous, disrespectful, and obnoxious.

    Those who seek to advance the cause of piracy by weakening patents, labeling inventors as 'trolls', and otherwise devalue the work of scientific advancement are the low lives of society, not the inventors.

    Is it any wonder that the US is falling behind in science, when smart, diligent people are bullied throughout their lives ... first in grade school, and then right on up through to their days as inventors, there are bullies out there seeking to put them down, for no reason other than lifting their own, less-skilled selves up.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  29. icon
    Pirate Hater (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:14pm

    Patent Thicket or Pirate Cove?

    Let's not forget that most of us wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to build a cell phone. Indeed, 20 years ago, there weren't really many cellphones at all.

    There has been true innovation and invention that has enabled this industry. Of that, there can be no question.

    And, those who invented those true, enabling inventions deserve credit, respect, and strong patent rights.

    Those who violate those rights and that respect are the ones who deserve disrespect, not the inventors and their lawyers.

    To portray someone who invented, for example, an important new computer chip that advances cell phone technology as simply a 'troll' who contributes nothing but frivilous litigation to the economy is rude, to say the least, and more to the point, very disingenuous, disrespectful, and obnoxious.

    Those who seek to advance the cause of piracy by weakening patents, labeling inventors as 'trolls', and otherwise devalue the work of scientific advancement are the low lives of society, not the inventors.

    Is it any wonder that the US is falling behind in science, when smart, diligent people are bullied throughout their lives ... first in grade school, and then right on up through to their days as inventors, there are bullies out there seeking to put them down, for no reason other than lifting their own, less-skilled selves up.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  30. icon
    Pirate Hater (profile), 5 Mar 2010 @ 9:25pm

    Patent Thicket or Pirate Cove?

    Let's not forget that most of us wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to build a cell phone. Indeed, 20 years ago, there weren't really many cellphones at all.

    There has been true innovation and invention that has enabled this industry. Of that, there can be no question.

    And, those who invented those true, enabling inventions deserve credit, respect, and strong patent rights.

    Those who violate those rights and that respect are the ones who deserve disrespect, not the inventors and their lawyers.

    To portray someone who invented, for example, an important new computer chip that advances cell phone technology as simply a 'troll' who contributes nothing but frivilous litigation to the economy is rude, to say the least, and more to the point, very disingenuous, disrespectful, and obnoxious.

    Those who seek to advance the cause of piracy by weakening patents, labeling inventors as 'trolls', and otherwise devalue the work of scientific advancement are the low lives of society, not the inventors.

    Is it any wonder that the US is falling behind in science, when smart, diligent people are bullied throughout their lives ... first in grade school, and then right on up through to their days as inventors, there are bullies out there seeking to put them down, for no reason other than lifting their own, less-skilled selves up.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  31. icon
    johnjac (profile), 6 Mar 2010 @ 5:50am

    Re: The Value of Patents to The Consumer

    "First, patents don't prevent competitors from developing competing products. A patent only protects one product. Others are always free to develop better mousetraps and sell them at lower prices."

    Unless your patent of for the capturing and killing of mice. For example Tivo's patent for DVR if it stands, will give it a monopoly in that space. Or if your patent covers obviousness like using a touch screen to unlock a phone.

    Overly broad and overly obvious patents are purposely designed to drive away competition.


    "Second, to the extent that patents do enable a patentee to monopolize the supply chain and customers for his particular product offering, they have a cost reducing impact on that product, not a cost increasing impact, because they allow the patentee to achieve greater economies of scale in manufacturing."


    In you 1st point you praise power of competition, and in your 2nd point you praise the power of monopolies. Which is it?

    The 'economies of scale' argument can be and has been used to defend all monopolies. EoS is only 1/2 of the picture. A company is not going to look for EoS unless they have effective competition. Without competition there is no incentive to grow EoS because you already have 100% of the market.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  32. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Mar 2010 @ 1:43pm

    Re:

    Sure you cannot do that? Patents do expire you know, typically after 20 years or earlier if the proprietors stop paying the annuity fees.

    How about the revers: you have spent your savings and morgaged the rest to build someting new and when you launch your product an industrial behemot copies your work and sell it as theirs, destroying your possibilities of paying back what you owe. Sounds good?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  33. identicon
    Gene Cavanaugh, 6 Mar 2010 @ 1:56pm

    Smartphone lawsuits

    Excellent article, and I agree wholeheartedly. As an IP (aka "patent") attorney, I continue to believe small entity patenting does much good, and helps our economy by encouraging innovation.
    Large entity patenting (to most folks, "patenting", which does more to show how ignorant the public is of such things than anything else!) is EVIL, and needs to be curbed (or even, as Mike has suggested, abolished!).
    The same is true of large entity trademarking, and certainly of large entity copyright - EVIL!
    Unfortunately large entities have more money - who ever heard of a small entity buying a politician?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  34. identicon
    angry dude, 8 Mar 2010 @ 7:25am

    Re: Smartphone lawsuits

    Dude,

    What is your Patent Attorney Registration Number ?

    Either provide it or stop BSing us about being patent attorney

    Seriously, dude....

    link to this | view in thread ]

  35. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2010 @ 6:28am

    Re: Re: Smartphone lawsuits

    AD:

    His registration number is 40550. He specializes in (reading his last post, here is a huge shock - wait for it) SMALL ENTITY PATENTING!!!

    link to this | view in thread ]


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