Google has never used a patent offensively. Hell even Waymo was more about theft than patents. But HN turns rabid in these situations rather than understanding Google has to do this to prevent trolls from doing it.
>Google has to do this to prevent trolls from doing it.
So you believe that a company as powerful as Google deserves more consolidated power.
No, thanks.I will stick with the possibility of getting sued by a troll than handing that power to Google.
No, but they've never used that power whereas trolls always use it for bad.
The fact that you'd rather have a troll own it than Google is literally retarded. That's like advocating you'd prefer North Korea have nukes than the US, because the US already has too much power.
Why would you rather be sued in real life over a theoretical fear? Is absurd.
HN turns rabid, rightfully so. Even with so-called good motives, which are not even proven. And to be clear, in no way there can be a good motive here: their pledge is limited to Free and Open Source Software, its not even sure this pledge is binding, and EVEN if they really do limit their use of this patent (would have it been misattributed to Google by error), I don't think they would EVER pay the real inventor the value they gain from obtain from having it in their stockpile, even less if they do want to use it after another giant attack them.
Their history dictates their motives, and having never offensively used a patent as of the moment they clearly have good motives.
You are attacking the player, not the game. Software patents shouldn't exist. But in reality they do, and as of this moment I would much rather Google own the patent than a troll.
I will never ever buy the "we are forced to do evil things for the greater good" argument.
Especially behind real inventors' back.
You can't just dictate your own distorted ethical vision just because you are too big.
Edit: plus I don't even give a shit if they limit their use of this patent to defend themselves against competitor claims. Clearly even in this limited case this patent still would have (a very good) value, so at least propose the REAL inventor to patent it and sell ultra limited right for that purpose for a few millions. Then this would be kind of ethical.
