Ironic That Xerox Wants Laws To Break The Copying Machine On The Internet

from the things-change... dept

We've already discussed the list of companies that have come out in favor of censoring the internet via domain name seizures and laws like COICA which extend the ability to censor the web through breaking the basic DNS system. As some pointed out, one of the names on the list that really stood out was Xerox, who signed on because it wants to crack down on those selling counterfeit Xerox parts. However, given Xerox's history as the leading purveyor of machines that copy stuff -- which set off a massive rethink of copyright laws, you would think the company wouldn't be so eager to pin onerous new regulations on the "copy machine" that is the internet.

Filed Under: coica, copyright, domain seizures
Companies: xerox

No, You Don't Have To File Patent Lawsuits

from the bogus-reasons dept

A bunch of folks have been sending in the news of Xerox's patent lawsuit against Google and Yahoo over search technology, and I'd debated posting it at all. It's the same old story. A company widely considered a has-been goes searching through its patents, on technology it did nothing at all with, and sues other companies who had the same idea and actually went forward and implemented it successfully. Yet another case of "those who can't innovate, litigate."

But what caught my attention was Xerox's given reason for pursuing the lawsuit:

"We believe we have no option but to file suit to properly protect our intellectual property."

Sorry, but that's no reason to file a lawsuit. It's a common cliche in patent lawsuits, but it's totally bogus. Of course you have other options. There is no rule that you have to file a lawsuit to "protect" the patent. There is no "protecting" that needs to be done. This is just a blatant attempt to squeeze money out of companies who actually implemented a product where Xerox failed. That's not protecting, it's shaking down.

Filed Under: patents, protection, search
Companies: google, xerox, yahoo