[IP] more on Wi-Fi standards face patent threat

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lars Poulsen <lpoulsen@afar.net>
Date: November 29, 2006 12:16:10 PM EST
To: dewayne@warp-speed.com, dave@farber.net
Subject: Re: [IP] and [Dewayne-Net] Wi-Fi standards face patent threat

>> Patents ... have become so not what the founding fathers had in mind
>> when they hardwired them into the constitution.


Indeed. As a senior engineer (partner in a start-up company) it is in
my best interest NOT to read any patents related to my field.

If I read patents and learn anything in the process, I am obligated
to try to negotiate a license for using what I learned. Since the
owner of the patent is likely to be a competitor, it is likely that
he will be unwilling to grant a license on terms that are acceptable
to me.

If I DON'T read the patents, and independently come up with the same
techniques, I have a pretty good defense of obviousness. And if I
keep my circuit designs and source code as trade secrets, who is to
know that I achieved the same features by the same mechanisms anyway?

So much for patents "promoting innovation in the arts and sciences".

/ Lars Poulsen
 Afar Communications Inc




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