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Open source fights back: 'We won't get patent-trolled again' (www.zdnet.com)

submitted 6 days ago by mox@lemmy.sdf.org to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 106 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Tldr, to help fight patent trolls:

They're asking you to find evidence of preexisting technology -- referred to by patent lawyers as "prior art" -- that can kill off bad patents. This could be open-source documentation (including release notes), published standards or specifications, product manuals, articles, blogs, books, or any publicly available information.

They use this info to essentially undercut and invalidate the patent trolls' filing, killing their ability to file suit on that patent again.

There's also a contest with a $3000 prize for anyone who can help kill a current one on their plate.

https://patroll.unifiedpatents.com/contests/s3vQkRdTC6coNkjyx

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It sounds like they need proof that this tech existed before 2013? I'm new to patents.. how does this evidence kill the patent?

[–] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago

Can't file a patent on something that someone else already made.