Comments on: First, kill all the lawyers http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/ A distant chipmunk on the horizon Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:58:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brad Green http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/comment-page-1/#comment-923 Brad Green Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:50:40 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/#comment-923 It would be interesting to see if prior art does exist for one of the main tenets of the "multitouch patent", that being, the ability to determine if the user is attempting to make a vertical or a horizontal swipe on the screen. I would think that some developer would have implemented it at some time in the history of touch screen pdas. That said, I think Palm stays safe due to MAD. An article on a website (I think it may have been Engadget) shows that Apple's iPhone clearly violated many of Palm's patents when it was first released (and still violates them now). I think both companies know what they are doing, and that at least again a patent powerhouse like Palm these patents are unenforcable (which is to say other companies might not be so lucky, or may be shielded by Palm out of necessity). It would be interesting to see if prior art does exist for one of the main tenets of the “multitouch patent”, that being, the ability to determine if the user is attempting to make a vertical or a horizontal swipe on the screen. I would think that some developer would have implemented it at some time in the history of touch screen pdas. That said, I think Palm stays safe due to MAD. An article on a website (I think it may have been Engadget) shows that Apple’s iPhone clearly violated many of Palm’s patents when it was first released (and still violates them now). I think both companies know what they are doing, and that at least again a patent powerhouse like Palm these patents are unenforcable (which is to say other companies might not be so lucky, or may be shielded by Palm out of necessity).

]]> By: Jeff http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/comment-page-1/#comment-922 Jeff Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:19:43 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/#comment-922 It was a literary allusion, not an indictment of lawyers. Some of my best friends are lawyers. I'll try to be more on the nose with my headlines... Sheesh. It was a literary allusion, not an indictment of lawyers. Some of my best friends are lawyers. I’ll try to be more on the nose with my headlines… Sheesh.

]]> By: Marc Rosen http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/comment-page-1/#comment-921 Marc Rosen Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:48:56 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/#comment-921 Jeff- I'm really disappointed in the disparaging remarks you've made about lawyers. Adding fuel to the nonsense about lawyers is beneath you. Lawyers are no worse than the people they represent. Please think before you make statements like that. Thank you. Jeff–
I’m really disappointed in the disparaging remarks you’ve made about lawyers. Adding fuel to the nonsense about lawyers is beneath you. Lawyers are no worse than the people they represent.

Please think before you make statements like that. Thank you.

]]> By: Robotech_Master http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/comment-page-1/#comment-901 Robotech_Master Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:16:35 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/#comment-901 Harold: in re plotter wishing to ensure anarchy follows by killing lawyers: <a href="http://www.spectacle.org/797/finkel.html" rel="nofollow"><b>FALSE.</b></a> (See also, <a href="http://www.terrania.us/journal/2006/10/gk-chesterton-was-right.html" rel="nofollow">why so many people still believe it to be true anyway.</a>) Harold: in re plotter wishing to ensure anarchy follows by killing lawyers: <a href=“http://www.spectacle.org/797/finkel.html” rel=“nofollow”><b>FALSE.</b></a>

(See also, <a href=“http://www.terrania.us/journal/2006/10/gk-chesterton-was-right.html” rel=“nofollow”>why so many people still believe it to be true anyway.</a>)

]]> By: Harold Goldner http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/comment-page-1/#comment-857 Harold Goldner Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:29:59 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/#comment-857 I wish you hadn't used that headline. It's a quote from a Shakespearean play in which a conspirer to overthrow the throne of England postulates that if one wants to ensure anarchy follows, "first kill all the lawyers." I agree with your sentiment, however, and commented over on Palminfocenter similarly to you. If Apple wishes to 'patent' how I use my fingers, then I'll hold one finger up for them. Harold I wish you hadn’t used that headline. It’s a quote from a Shakespearean play in which a conspirer to overthrow the throne of England postulates that if one wants to ensure anarchy follows, “first kill all the lawyers.”

I agree with your sentiment, however, and commented over on Palminfocenter similarly to you.

If Apple wishes to ‘patent’ how I use my fingers, then I’ll hold one finger up for them.

Harold

]]> By: rcartwright http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/comment-page-1/#comment-850 rcartwright Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:01:43 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/#comment-850 Apple suing Palm would be like the guy who parks next to the handicap spot over the line and then sues the person getting into their van for rubbing the paint job with his wheelchair while struggling to get in. While the prior poster may have been kidding about "Minority Report" prior art, bear in mind that the waterbed could not be patented because Robert Heinlein described the waterbed in the novella "Waldo". While its entirely possible they will go after Palm if the product takes off, its equally likely that Palm will not have any problem finding the funds to defend the suit, probably from some folks up Redmond way on the theory of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" Apple suing Palm would be like the guy who parks next to the handicap spot over the line and then sues the person getting into their van for rubbing the paint job with his wheelchair while struggling to get in. While the prior poster may have been kidding about “Minority Report” prior art, bear in mind that the waterbed could not be patented because Robert Heinlein described the waterbed in the novella “Waldo”. While its entirely possible they will go after Palm if the product takes off, its equally likely that Palm will not have any problem finding the funds to defend the suit, probably from some folks up Redmond way on the theory of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”

]]> By: Robotech_Master http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/comment-page-1/#comment-849 Robotech_Master Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:34:18 +0000 http://www.jeffkirvin.net/2009/01/first-kill-all-the-lawyers/#comment-849 Well, Palm did pretty much invent the PDA. Who's to say they might not have some dusty old patents socked away that they could pit against Apple in a flurry of Mutual Assured Patent-Obstruction? (Or perhaps they're banking on using <i>Minority Report</i> as prior art. :) Well, Palm did pretty much invent the PDA.

Who’s to say they might not have some dusty old patents socked away that they could pit against Apple in a flurry of Mutual Assured Patent-Obstruction?

(Or perhaps they’re banking on using Minority Report as prior art. :)

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