When Patents Attack!

I recently listened to an episode of This American Life called “When Patents Attack!”. Something that surprised me while listening was that while I think of patents as being mostly for gadgets and the kinds of products you see on infomercials, patents have become a huge factor in the software and online industries, to the tune of billions of dollars [..]

Patents are devolving into something the opposite of its original intent: a tool for tech-industry shakedowns and costly litigation [..]

[A patent has been awarded for] method for concealing partial baldness (combover) [..]

Many of [the ..] redundant patents are made in an attempt to capitalize on fundamental systems and behaviours in technology and online [Examples:]

“Backing Up Data Online”. “Providing a User Interface”. “Pop-up Windows on The Web”.