Biggest patent troll of 2014 gives up, drops appeal

[You_are_a_cunt]

 

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In 2014, no company filed more patent lawsuits than eDekka LLC, a Texas-based company with just one asset—US Patent No. 6,266,674. Fully 168 patent lawsuits came to a sudden halt in October, when US District Judge Rodney Gilstrap stopped the litigation campaign in its tracks.

 

eDekka's patent, which had been used to sue a wide array of online retailers, described nothing more than "the abstract idea of storing and labeling information," Gilstrap found. Those were "routine tasks that could be performed by a human" and didn't meet the standard for getting a patent. Gilstrap ruled the patent invalid.

Quote

Many of the remaining eDekka defendants, selling everything from shoes to stationery to coffee, filed a fee request on December 31. In January, Gilstrap ordered eDekka to pay a total of more than $390,000 in attorneys' fees to 24 defendant companies. The order gave most of the defendants exactly the fees they requested, generally between $13,000 and $16,000 each. (Most of the defendants have banded together in a joint defense group, represented by lawyers from Fish & Richardson.) There's no indication in the court docket that the fees matter has been settled.

Original article: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/03/biggest-patent-troll-of-2014-gives-up-drops-appeal/

 

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My take on the subject:

ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME!

 

Patent trolling should be made illegal, since even a vague patent that defines something as simple as "sorting and labeling information" can generate millions for shell companies like eDekka.

Precedent is being established and, hopefully, these cases will be held as an example in new and existing lawsuits.

 

This proves once more the lack of actual case study that is involved when approving a patent.

[Hazrayjay]

Yay, its over!

[You_are_a_cunt]

Just now, Hazrayjay said:

Yay, its over!

no. this is merely the beginning of the end for patent trolls. Hopefully

[Hazrayjay]

Just now, revsilverspine said:

no. this is merely the beginning of the end for patent trolls. Hopefully

Well its the beginning of something good at least. Sick of these douchebags. 

[Bouzoo]

3 hours ago, revsilverspine said:

Patent trolling should be made illegal

Not sure how you can make a lawsuit illegal. If you have an idea you should patent it. 

[FPSwithaWacomTablet]

At least law is being practised properly this time... Apple vs. Samsung is popcorn time compared to this

[Sauron]

Good. Hopefully they can fix patent laws now.

[NateGSR117]

It a start at least, hopefully more patent trolls will be stop in the court system and Judges are becoming more smart about it.

[CTR640]

Hopefully this will prevent Apple from "inventing" and patenting totally lifeless and useless shitty "ideas"