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> By failing to patent the original invention, Duda made ANS useful and widely available, but he now has no leverage against Microsoft.

Except, he can challenge Microsoft's patent on prior art terms




How could any normal person possibly afford challenging Microsoft in court?


By taking it to court. If support is necessary, support can be raised. Big is not invincible.


more likely:

1. MSFT attempts to assert patent

2. Defender says haha

3. MSFT files motion with court

4. Defender calls MSFT: "you want your patent invalidated, because this is how you get your patent invalidated"

5. <back and forth>

6. Defender pays $, MSFT withdraws motion from court.

even more likely:

1. MSFT doesn't take companies to court on patents - that's not their business model

2. In the next mega cross-licensing negotiation between MSFT and <Google, IBM, etc> said patent it added to a pile of 1000s of others.

3. Little stack pays bigger stack by the inch (not joking)

4. Your cellphone is $1 more expensive

5. Patent attorney's kid goes to college. Yours does too.

6. Attorney's kid goes debt-free. Yours does not.

(pls correct me if there's a more modern version)


Money is the actual limitation.


With the money he made by making it free?




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