Re: News - Commercial Version of Hercules - Turbo Hercules

On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 3:40 AM, Roger Bowler <rogerbowler-/[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Having analyzed a handful of the patents involved, there are serious
> doubts about their validity and/or applicability to Hercules. It is
> reasonable to assume that the remaining patents will be similar.

I would say that is true about all software patents.  You design it so
smart programmers can use it in creative ways, and when you sell
hardware / license code you grant a license to use it creatively.
>
> IBM boasts the world's largest patent portfolio, but if you actually
> read some of them they seem be going for quantity rather than quality.
> It's pretty clear that many of the patents have never been properly
> examined by the patent office, and would be rapidly demolished if they
> ever came to court.
>
> I suspect the primary reason that IBM bought out PSI is that IBM did
> not dare risk seeing any of their patents ruled invalid by a court.
>
Yep.  One of our IBM account guys played up the PSI case as winning on
merits, and I said, you only proved you have enough money to buy out
competitors.
-- 
Mike A Schwab, Springfield IL USA
Where do Forest Rangers go to get away from it all?