Ronald J Riley 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (786)

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 05:42pm

  Re: Re: Betamax v. VHS - All Marketing

  As I recall, Betamax was three hours, long enough for most movies but it was also a much higher quality image.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 05:39pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Someone has to be original.

  "Most real inventors despise the patent system and never get patents."
  
  This is utter bunk. Lots of people want to think that they invent, especially programmers. This ranks right next to men's preoccupation with their anatomy, IQ, etc., but if they do not get a patent then they actually have no evidence that they invented.
  
  While my primary expertise was in hardware design (analog and digital), I was an early adopter of microprocessor technology. At that time there were mostly Cobal and Fortan programmers and both turned their noses up at programming micros. So I had to write my own code. Throughout my career I used scores of languages and hundreds of dialects. As the industry matured programmers started to specialize in embedded system programming.
  
  I hired quite a few engineers and programmers and it was rare to see a software engineer which had the same reasoning capabilities as those who designed hardware. The reality is that most software developers are drones who write endless amounts of code with slight variations. At least half of them are pretty mediocre. They have their uses but they are not the brightest bulbs in the pack.
  
  This is the same group who rationalizes that their contribution to society ranks in the same class as that of their peers who do actually invent new things. I assure you that they do not come close.
  
  As to open source, it is NO different than any other art area. They can use whatever is in public domain but have no right to use that which is covered by in force patents.
  
  I would add that just because they offer free code as a loss leader, to generate profit in other ways does not give them the right to steal others intellectual property.
  
  I do recognize that open source is the kind of thing Mike Masnick likes to rant about, the FREE business model. But a free business model has to be based on giving away your own property and not on the equivalent of of a chop shop operation selling stolen car parts.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 05:14pm

  Re: Re: Leapfroging

  "some say he delayed the industrial revolution by decades."
  
  Does it matter what some say? I don't think so.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 05:11pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Someone has to be original.

  No, the patent system does not take anything because without it most people will not invest in producing or teaching the invention.
  
  In order for inventors to have the freedom to invent they need income from their inventions. Otherwise they end up wage slaves. The beauty of our patent system is it allows inventors to become independent.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 05:08pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Leapfroging

  No, the patent system does not take anything because without it most people will not invest in producing or teaching the invention.
  
  In order for inventors to have the freedom to invent they need income from their inventions. Otherwise they end up wage slaves. The beauty of our patent system is it allows inventors to become independent.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 05:02pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Leapfroging

  It is always interesting how people twist history. Even if this was true the term of patents is short enough that it really does not matter in the big picture.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 04:46pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Leapfrogging

  There are two major big business factions:
  
  Coalition for Patent Piracy & Fairness
  
  The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Deform & HARMonization
  
  The first group is made up of banking, insurance and tech interests who want to eviscerate the patent system by eliminating most damages of patent infringement. This group is brash in their theft of inventors patent property rights. As a result they are being hosed in the courts.
  
  The second group wants to retain their own patent value but to otherwise turn the patent system into a kings sport, freezing out all small entity inventors. This group is more risk adverse in large part because they have been burned big time for patent infringement in the past and management cannot stomach that kind of risk. But they are quite eager to return to their pirating ways if they can remove their risk.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 04:15pm

  Re: Re: Re: Copying and IP

  "Why is it that they completely censor anything critical of IP and media monopolies and they only discuss the pro IP position? After all, aren't they gigantic commercial entities?"
  
  Media widely promotes the myth of "patent trolls".
  
  Also, big media has promoted Patent Deform legislation, Time Warner is one example.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 04:15pm

  Re: Re: Re: Copying and IP

  "Why is it that they completely censor anything critical of IP and media monopolies and they only discuss the pro IP position? After all, aren't they gigantic commercial entities?"
  
  Media widely promotes the myth of "patent trolls".
  
  Also, big media has promoted Patent Deform legislation, Time Warner is one example.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 04:07pm

  Animals Copying

  "Copying one another is a perfectly natural right and it happens in nature among animals all the time."
  
  The thing is that we are humans and we have laws and courts to enforce those laws. Inventors publish because the government promises benefits in exchange for publishing. This is a contract between inventors and society.
  
  The problem is that we have antisocial unethical people who feel perfectly justified in stealing from inventors. And when we follow the social code and seek redress in court the crooks then conduct massive propaganda campaigns demonizing us as "trolls" even as they are losing in court.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 03:51pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Leapfrogging

  "If it's reasoned debate you want, you are at the right place,"
  
  I have yet to see any reasoned debate on this forum. I see many people babbling about patents who are at best woefully ignorant about the topic.
  
  Intelligence is a very complex issue, so I cannot tell if the people on TechDIRT are stupid, just ignorant or are hired corporate stooges. What I do know is that many people on TechDIRT push large corporate propaganda as truth when it is not.
  
  Any inventor who has suffered at the hands of those who take our inventions without compensation will take serious exception to the agenda which is promoted on TechDIRT.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 03:39pm

  Re: Re: Re: Leapfroging

  Early steam engines were incredibly dangerous to use because of the manufacturing issues. I am sure that seeing people ripped to shreds of cooked alive had something to do with teh rate of acceptance.
  
  Thanks for the book reference but it is probably wasted in TechDIRT.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Eli Lilly's Reliance On Patents May Be Its Downfall

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 03:08pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Not as tough as for any possible competition..

  "Heh. Those who don't understand history are funny."
  
  Mike, now that you understand what your problem is I suggest that you further educate yourself before removing what little doubt remains.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Eli Lilly's Reliance On Patents May Be Its Downfall

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 03:03pm

  Re: Re: Not as tough as for any possible competition..

  "Yes, I agree, Darryl. The fact that you finally agree with me on something could damage my reputation. I expect it won't happen again."
  
  Mike, what damages your reputation is all the unadulterated drivel you spew about patents.
  
  Eli Lilly is a very good example of what happens to successful large companies. They become complacent and short term gain oriented. As a rule large companies cannot produce significant inventions, significant invention happens in smaller companies.
  
  Eli Lilly will either have to buy small upcoming companies and tighten their belts.
  
  One thing which can be said for the pharmaceutical industry is that they generally acquire the inventions they need legitimately while tech, banking and insurance flat out try to steal.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 02:59pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Leapfrogging

  I guess you created a self fulfilling prophecy. If you post an insult, something very common with TechDIRT lemmings, then you should not be surprised if you get an insulting reply. You should also not be surprised when the reply does such an effective job of summing up your situation.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 02:48pm

  Re: Re: Do You Want Inventions To See The Light Of Day?

  "No one makes you or anyone else "invent".
  
  Most certainly no one give us the ability to invent but government encourages us to teach or inventions with the promise of potential financial gain.
  
  Without that reward we would not publish, in fact we would do our best to keep our inventions secret. This is exactly what guilds did before the advent of patents.
  
  Technological progress would occur at a much slower rate. Is that what you want because if it is you can stop buying any product which have patent protection. In that way you could completely avoid paying for patent and live a short and simple life.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 02:26pm

  Re: Copying and IP

  "Do you suppose there is intelligent life in the universe? There doesn't seem to be much here."
  
  I think it is probable there is other intelligence in the universe and that considering the vastness of time and space and as long as we have sub light speed travel that we are not likely to encounter such life.
  
  On the issue of TechDIRT, either the average IQ is far below normal or the forum exists to serve commercial interests. Unfortunately, I cannot tell which is the case.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 02:13pm

  The System Works

  It is not strange at all. The system confers a 20 year limited property right and if someone violates our rights the remedy is to seek compensation &/or an injunction in the courts.
  
  During the 1920 through the end of the 1960s time frame companies were able to take inventor's property with total impunity.
  
  Since that time inventors have become much better at extracting retribution and large companies do not like that one bit.
  
  While those companies are unable to produce significant inventions they are very creative with their public relations. Since 2005 companies whose business model is based on systematic serial infringement have spent more than $200 million dollars annually painting inventors as "trolls" and otherwise buying influence.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 01:40pm

  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Leapfrogging

  And clearly if you cannot find the material you have a massively deficient intellect.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

• On the post: Why Imitation Gets A Bad Rap… And Why Companies Need To Be More Serious About Copying

  

  Ronald J Riley ( profile ), 09 Oct, 2010 @ 11:44am

  Do You Want Inventions To See The Light Of Day?

  "charging ridiculously high licensing fees"
  
  No one makes you or anyone else license. You do not have to use the invention if you don't like the price.
  
  "or insisting that a company they set up is the only solution as long as they have the patent monopoly to keep others out."
  
  If you want the invention to see the light of day you have to compensate the inventor. That is the way the system works.
  
  Ronald J. Riley,
  
  Speaking only on my own behalf.
  President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org
  Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
  Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
  President - Alliance for American Innovation
  Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
  Washington, DC
  Direct (810) 597-0194 - (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.

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