[WSIS CS-Plenary] Microsoft new Intellectual Property tactic

[Rui Correia]

>From another list: 
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_27/b3991401.htm 

Nathan Myhrvold, Microsoft's first chief technology officer, has a plan for
Intellectual Property. First he gathers leading scientists and patent
attorneys to
brainstorm and come up with ideas that his company, Intellectual Ventures,
can
license to others. They plan to produce nothing but patents. You know what
comes
next.

The company also offers to "immunize" corporations from patent suits for a
$50
million fee. The company will go around and buy patents before other patent
trolls
do, thereby "protecting" the clients. Others, of course, will have to face
the
consequences of not having ponied up the $50 million.

Does the word "blackmail" have any relevance here?

________________________________________________
 
 
Rui Correia
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