I wonder if the #takerbot crew know that by making false patent claims they would open themselves up to a large fine and 5 years in jail?
I wonder if, with the evidence of their job opening in the past if we could get someone from the EFF to take a look at this. Patent “harvester”…what a fucking joke.
I think it naive to consider that Makerbot under Stratasys is going to behave in a way where they would be in a position to knowingly file something they believe untrue. The blowback from the shareholders would be far more damaging to the company than any patent filing violations. It’s not only possible but likely Stratasys spends more on legal support in a month than most here make in a year. They are more than familiar with how to legally exploit the patent system in their favor.
Even with the issues concerning Makerbot patents the way that many here voice their frustrations is not productive and paints the community in a bad light. I see a more pragmatic, mature approach being more productive. Though that may have minimal impact on the situation, the Internet equivalent of screaming at the sky will most certainly not lead to a productive outcome.
Things like teaching how the patent system works and the difference between patents and copyrights would be a good start. Learning how these companies legally use the patent system and how to submit prior art claims is essential. It’s best to proactively address the situation with education, information and engagement. The time and energy that some spend venting frustration via rants I think could be better spent addressing the issue directly.
This isn’t a rant. I’m pointing out what each “inventor” would typically sign when submitting a patent in the US. Some may not be aware that such an undertaking is part of the process.
Whilst I agree that submitting prior art is a critical thing to do, there is an obligation on the patentee to do this themselves and legally declare that this has been done.
The lawyers that typically do this search do not sign the patent, the “inventors” do and it is them that take a risk.
My take is that you are trying to paint Makerbot/Stratasys as ignorant rubes that aren’t familiar with the patent system. The danger is that they do indeed know how the system works and how to leverage it to their advantage. You can bet that a fleet of patent attorneys are deeply involved in anything they patent. They likely control what is patented and when it is patented and there is likely a business case on which each of these decisions are based. Make no mistake, these folks do indeed know what they are doing.
Then I need wonder no longer 