Potentially BIG trouble for the MMO industry... - by EvaUnit02
rachel on 8/1/2009 at 17:51
For this particualr strip, I'll have to go ahead and disagree with you, Bob.
Zillameth on 8/1/2009 at 18:25
This piece of news has been widely discussed recently, and there's a common opinion that there's a lot of prior art. MMOs didn't start with Ultima Online. The challenge for NCSoft will be to prove those old programs are indeed prior art. NCSoft is now low on money so some people doubt if they're going to be able to defend themselves.
gunsmoke on 8/1/2009 at 18:33
Quote Posted by Zillameth
NCSoft is now low on money so some people doubt if they're going to be able to defend themselves.
Which, to me, is the tragedy of the whole affair. :(
Zygoptera on 8/1/2009 at 20:55
Quote Posted by Yakoob
Patents on ideas are one of the most retarded things ever invented by man.
Technically, you cannot patent an idea, even in the US, only means to implement an idea (outside the US software patents are not granted though they are covered by copyright) regarded as an invention. The US patent system is very widely regarded as fundamentally broken as it gives incentives for the granting of patents even when they are not justified- perhaps the two most well known examples of obviously spurious patent grants were Basmati Rice and Yellow Beans, both of which the US patent office regarded as being novel inventions of US companies...
There's no realistic chance of this patent troll succeeding though. Apart from not having filed all the required paperwork yet, if it ever gets to court you'll see the defence lawyers turn up in solid platinum stretch hummers because even if NCSoft may have some disadvantages (not hugely profitable, not a native US company) Blizzard will not want a precedent.
Silkworm on 8/1/2009 at 21:04
Quote Posted by Yakoob
Patents on ideas are one of the most retarded things ever invented by man.
John Carmack had a really good rant on the concept of patents in one of his speeches, but he also acknowledged that the original idea behind the patent office was legitimate. In the modern era, there's nothing that a copyright isn't good enough for.
Quote Posted by Koki
And so is money! Fuck the police!
I think you've confused
copyrights with patents, the distinction is important.
The penny arcade comic pretty much nailed the absurdity of the whole situation.
doctorfrog on 8/1/2009 at 22:58
Quote Posted by The_Raven
Once again, Penny Arcade fails to be even remotely amusing.
But, really, though: For once, Penny Arcade is actually amusing!
Scots Taffer on 8/1/2009 at 23:15
Quote Posted by The_Raven
Once again, Penny Arcade fails to be even remotely amusing.
How can one person be so full of wrong?
june gloom on 8/1/2009 at 23:19
Dude you've been here 9 years, you should know this by now.
Aja on 9/1/2009 at 00:30
Quote Posted by Scots Taffer
How can one person be so full of wrong?
Except in this case he isn't. That comic sucks.
june gloom on 9/1/2009 at 00:32
The preceding Aja post has been brought to you by Aja.
