My biggest fear is that all the really valuable and very broad patents that qualify as crap have been granted, and we're merely in the midst of the "long tail" of patent applications. How can we fix the problem of the 30,000+ patents that have the potential of ruining startups? Is there a speedy, non-lawyer-required way of killing companies' patents by proving they're obvious or that they already exist?
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There is a new patent invalidation crowdfunding platform : unpatent.co– alexMar 17, 2017 at 13:32
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4 Answers
Check the unpatent.co website. It's a platform for crowdfunding of campaigns against malicious patents.
Also check Unified Patents.
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1Thanks, Alex! I used to own
patents.ripand had intended on creating this same thing. I never found the time to even begin, and had lost hope that such a thing would ever exist. I can't tell you how glad I am for this! May 20, 2017 at 15:12 -
You are welcome. There is also a trollala.com website, but as I understand they are partnered together under unpatent.co project.– alexMay 31, 2017 at 9:28
No, there is no way that is quick and inexpensive. Patents are presumed valid and the least difficult way to try to knock one down is an ex parte reexamination. Anyone can file a request based on submitting published documents and an explanation as to how they apply to which claims, and $6000. The patent office gets 3 months to decide if there is a "significant new question of patentablity". If not you get your $6000 back. If so, they proceed to examine it again, but with "special dispatch". At the end a reexamination certificate is issued that might say everything is fine, some claims are changed, some or all claims are gone. The requestor does not get to participate after sending it in.
No lawyer is technically required. You could draw it up yourself, or you can use a registered practitioner. That includes patent attorneys and patent agents. If one were actually spending $6000 in USPTO fees, another few thousand to get it done professionally seems wise.
answered Jul 23, 2013 at 7:16
My idea was to create an online system which allows defendants which are accused of patent infringement to find other defendants in the same situation, being sued or threatened to be sued. This would allow several defendants to combine resources and take down some of the patent trolls. Perhaps it could be an addition to this awesome website!
Crowdfunding and crowdresearching patent invalidation suits can really put a dent in the patent trolling industry.
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Please please launch a kickstarter (or similar) for that and announce it here! Jul 25, 2013 at 17:13
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I realize this is old, but did you ever try this out or is there actually something online following your idea? Just curious.– user18033Dec 14, 2016 at 19:45
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To add to Mr. White's answer, there is also inter partes reexamination, in which you can actively participate in the process. Cost is higher, and each new submission requires additional fees.
Also, "another few thousand to get it done professionally" is a bit low. :-) I suppose you could find someone to do the filing for cheap, but really, to do it professionally, you're talking five figures, and not necessarily low five figures.
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1Reexam's are handled by senior patent examiners and processed much like the examinations done to grant or reject a patent in the first place. Interpartes reexams were a big step up in complication and legal bills. The AIA replace interpartes reexam with interparty review. They are handled by administrative law judges within the USPTO and are a quasi-litigation. Yes, that is very very expensive in legal bills.– George White ♦Jul 23, 2013 at 17:59