Once Again, John Oliver Covers A Techdirt Topic: This Time, It's Patent Trolls

from the advance-research-team? dept

Tue, Apr 21st 2015 9:03pm — Mike Masnick

Yes, it's become something of a cliche to post John Oliver's weekly videos, but he keeps doing ones that feel like they're ripped straight from Techdirt's headlines that we just can't help ourselves (also, if the team over there working for Oliver wants some help -- let us know!). This time, he took on patent trolling and the need for patent reform in the US: To be honest, if you regularly read our patent coverage there's very little in there that you won't already know -- though our coverage doesn't (generally) involve a dorky dancing guy who will draw you a cat, though if we get enough requests, perhaps we could add that to one of the Tims' job responsibilities. Still, it's nice to see more mainstream attention on patent trolls and the need for patent reform. The latest move for patent reform really kicked off in earnest when the issue got attention via a wonderful episode of This American Life. Perhaps John Oliver can help keep the momentum going so we can at least get something through Congress this year. It won't be enough, but it will help.

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Filed Under: john oliver, patent reform, patent trolls, patents

24 Comments

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Rabbit80 (profile), 21 Apr 2015 @ 9:38pm

Any other links to the video?
Typically, it is blocked in the UK!
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- Anonymous Coward, 21 Apr 2015 @ 10:42pm
  
  Re: Any other links to the video?
  Its viewable from the UK on his facebook (scroll down a bit for the video, couldn't find a direct link):
  https://www.facebook.com/LastWeekTonight?fref=nf
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  - Michael, 22 Apr 2015 @ 5:37am
    
    Re: Re: Any other links to the video?
    See?!
    
    Without FaceBook, the world would not have as much access to the internet! Can we please stop saying that our providing just Facebook content in certain countries is somehow bad for the internet?
    
    - Mark Z.
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    - Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2015 @ 5:51am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Any other links to the video?
      Sure. Whatever. But facebook still resolves to 0.0.0.0 in my HOSTS files.
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      - Derek Kerton (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 10:03am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Any other links to the video?
        You self-censored? Bold. That's like flushing your faggots down the loo.
        
        Wait...we were still talking in UK English, right?
        
        Whatever, I've gotta go get me mum a caravan.
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        Sheogorath (profile), 23 Apr 2015 @ 5:47pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any other links to the video?
        No such thing as UK English. Perhaps you meant British English?
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That One Guy (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 12:45am

Missing the best part
While it's nice he covered the topic in his usual 'funny, but seriously, this is a problem' method, and nice that he mentioned how much copyright trolls seem to love filing in east texas, I'm disappointed that they missed out on the funniest part of that, where patent trolls will rent 'office space' in the area, sometimes sharing the exact same address with many other trolls, in order to give themselves standing to file the case in Texas.

Seriously, dozens of patent trolls crammed into a room the size of a closet furiously waving extortion letters? That joke practically writes itself, pity they missed it.
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- Michael, 22 Apr 2015 @ 5:38am
  
  Re: Missing the best part
  John Oliver's patented system for "covering the topic in his usual 'funny, but seriously, this is a problem' method" is pending, but pre-patent licenses are already available.
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Mr. Oizo, 22 Apr 2015 @ 2:03am

Video just doesn't play.
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JR Price (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 3:23am

Just in case any Last Week Tonight researchers are looking for their next topic of conversation, I would like to categorically state that Mike Masnick is not a dingo.
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Yes, I know I'm commenting anonymously, 22 Apr 2015 @ 3:54am

Job Responsibilities
perhaps we could add that to one of the Tims' job responsibilities
If I recall correctly, he was the one that is particularly good at controlling greedy big cats. It would suit him.
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- Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2015 @ 6:10am
  
  Re: Job Responsibilities
  Erm, he said "one of the Tims'. That's plural. Which one were you talking about?
  
  Although, I could see it going either way.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2015 @ 7:52am
    
    Re: Re: Job Responsibilities
    He is referring to either Dark Helmet or Capitalist Lion Tamer, so take a guess.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2015 @ 7:37am

As soon as he announced the main topic of the week, I thought, you've got to be kidding me. Another one? Time to just fess up and admit that John Oliver is on the Techdirt staff.
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bureau13 (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 7:39am

Just admit it already
As soon as I saw him announce the week's main topic, I thought This is just getting ridiculous. Time to fess up and admit that John Oliver is on the Techdirt staff.

(You know, I've never seen Masnick and Oliver at the same time. Has anyone???)
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Jeffrey Nonken (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 8:09am

shameless plug
Oooh! Oooh! That's one of our products behind Austin, a C2 Professional desktop simulator from Precision Flight Controls.
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Jeremy2020 (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 8:16am

Please have less tim...don't encourage him to do more.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2015 @ 1:23pm

Isn't it wierd?
A "comedy" show saying what is a real problem? If I remember correctly the last time jesters wereing able to speak the truth was in the dark ages.

Does the USA really want to be known to be a dark age nation? You got so far with gay marriage and legalizing weed just to fall back to that? C'mon, you can do better! Let news be real news and not just some bought point of view.

It just feels wierd to me that you hear that kind of story from a comedian.
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- John Fenderson (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 1:58pm
  
  Re: Isn't it wierd?
  It's nothing new at all. Comedians have always been speaking hard truths that nobody else could speak.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 22 Apr 2015 @ 2:34pm
    
    Re: Re: Isn't it wierd?
    Sure they did but in a country or world of freedom (depending of your point of view of US influence *cough* 100+ countries with US military stations *cough*) Shouldn't non comedian news be able to speak "hard truths"? Or at least feel the need to report (that is their job after all) the truth? But even in the "mother" land they don't. How can any slave... sorry... trade partner with a USA military presence in it, be able to tell the truth?
    
    If they don't/can't do it then in my opinion they are nothing but a wheel in the "whatever you'd like to call it" gov.
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    - John Fenderson (profile), 23 Apr 2015 @ 8:26am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Isn't it wierd?
      "Shouldn't non comedian news be able to speak "hard truths"?"
      
      They should, and actual journalists do. The deeper issue is why aren't there very many actual journalists in the US? And, as near as I can tell, there are zero journalists in TV news.
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    - John Fenderson (profile), 23 Apr 2015 @ 8:28am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Isn't it wierd?
      Oh, and to show how long what you observe has been the case, here's a famous quote from Alexis de Tocqueville in 1835:
      
      I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America.
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toyotabedzrock (profile), 22 Apr 2015 @ 2:14pm

The HBO show silicon valley also is touching the patent troll topic. It seems to be the major plot line for season 2.
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Deepak, 29 Apr 2015 @ 9:58am

Video Response to John Oliver's Rant Against Patent Trolls
Video Response to John Oliver's Rant Against Patent Trolls. Watch video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir9e0rK9q4A.
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