Shopping cart patent troll and Newegg

[UglyCasanova]

Interesting story.

I haven't heard of this one until just now, but apparently Newegg fought and won a patent case earlier this year regarding the use of a "shopping cart" system. The company Soverain was your typical patent troll and was actually making headway in the courts with their claim. Newegg successfully fought off their suit (eventually, they did lose the first case) in appeals court and stopped Soverain's claim and the huge ramifications it could of had for online retail dead in its tracks.

Congrats to Newegg on their victory. "Companies" like Soverain to me are the scum of the earth. Literally nothing but leaches on the rest of society with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. There's a good This American Life episode that came out that deals with a company similar to this. It's being run by a former Microsoft big wig (the guy that made the expensive cookbook) and operates in much the same manner.

I'm not sure how to go about fixing the problems with our patent system, but to me letting small towns in east Texas essentially rule the world is a travesty.

 

[Jeff7]

Drat, no firing-squad verdict. :\

 

[Soundmanred]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2298234&highlight=patent+troll

 

[lamedude]

Just because he told me too.

Then they pop up and say, "Hello, surprise! Give us your money or we will shut you down!" Screw them. Seriously, screw them. You can quote me on that.