In , on 07/30/04 
   at 11:24 AM, "David Eckard"  said:

>In , on 07/30/2004 
>   at 03:04 PM, Mike O'Connor  said:

>>"Bill Gates said Thursday that Microsoft expects to file 3,000 patent
>>applications this year, up from a little over 2,000 last year and 1,000
>>just a few years ago. 'We think--patent for patent--what we are doing is,
>>if anything, more important than what others are doing,' said Gates,
>>perhaps referring to 'Organizing and displaying photographs based on
>>time,' which the USPTO published just hours before Gates spoke." 

>IBM averages 1300 patents a year and has for many years.  This story
>means little.  Applications are NOT patents.

>We will let BG have is fantasy.  We KNOW he has one about quality
>software.

>Steve Jobs said his biggest disappointment is that BG produces third rate
>software.

Just thinking out loud....

If we assume that for the most part, the patent office allows them to
patent anything with only a check to see that it is not a duplicate, then
Bill will end up with lots of patents on the record.

The only way to get them off, is to have someone take Bill to court. 
Given his propensity for lawyers and the cash to back up cases forever,
this could turn out to be an interesting business practice.

1. get patents on just about everything.
2. use all the extra money you have to fight anyone who wants to test the
validity of the patent court. 3. reap the rewards of pressuring every
company around for patent infringment because they don't have the money to
fight Bill in court over their validity.

I'm thinking this is typical Bill.  What he can't win by proper business
practice, use the legal system to strong arm others.

Regards,
-Mark



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