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Showing posts from July, 2012

Richardson granted patent for dependent encryption keys

http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20100296653 Today I was informed of yet another patent granted by the USPTO. The patent has to do with a series of dependant encryption keys with the ability to use one key to decrypt a whole series of encrypted packages each with different keys. At the time I thought it was a really interesting approach with applications in areas where a series of products purchased by a customer could be unlocked with one master key (the latest key) if the results of each unlock were used to unlock the previous product. Congratulations to Sean Burdick at Uniloc for working the many years to get this through the examination process.

Software patents - a reasoned perspective?

Most software developers understand and embrace the idea of copyright. They like the idea that when they write something in code, that it is their property. Whether paid for by their boss or owned themselves. Next they love the fact that if they give that code away for the common good, for example to an open source project, then they have done something of significance. But again, their work can not be abused because they have handed the copyright to the open project and who ever uses that code must contribute to the code and give the project recognition... why? Because of copyright. Copyright is protection law. It stops people from just taking other peoples work and using it for their own gain. Some people don't care. They are happy to give away their code. Fine. But in the business world, businessmen do care. Making software costs money. Frequently it involves investors who want a return on their investment. Companies want to own code thats important to them. Some code

Mojang reaction incredibly strong

Pheww. The reaction to the Mojang story is just going through the roof. over 8,000 visitors just to my site. Its amazing to see so many people loyal to this game maker. Good on him. But guys please be fair. 1. I am not the inventor of the patent in question. 2. The personal attacks are a bit much don't you think? 3. Patents are there to stop people stealing a technology you invented and letting you have a fair shot at making a living from it. If Uniloc wants to test this in court it is there prerogative, the same way that Mojang contested the use of the copyright term "Scrolls" and took people to court. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/113531-Bethesda-Doesnt-Enjoy-Being-Forced-into-Mojang-Lawsuit 4. What's good for the goose is good for the gander right? If it's all so wrong then let the court decide.

In defense of patents

You come up with a great idea. You want to see hundreds, thousands  or maybe millions of people use it. But the people you compete with have many more resources than you. You dont have millions of dollars or thousands of smart people to help you. In a perfect world you start making something and put a disclaimer on the front of each product "I am the inventor of this product. Please feel free to use it but please do not copy it and produce it yourself." Unfortunately that doesn't work. This is why governments step in and try to protect inventors of great ideas by 1. Make sure no one else has done the thing before and 2. Give the inventor a fair amount of time (20 years) to make a living from his thing before allowing everyone to use the idea as they see fit. Oh yes. The ideas is free to use... in 20 years. So why isn't everything patented? Because patenting is expensive and complicated. You have to prove that no one else has done your thing before. You

Ric Richardson reaction to negative press on Uniloc vs Mojang

DISCLAIMER: Please note that Ric is not a principle at Uniloc, does not speak for the company,  neither does he have influence over the companies actions since he is only a non majority shareholder. Further, Ric is the inventor of the 216 patent which was the centre of the court case with Microsoft. HE IS NOT the inventor of the patent at dispute with Mojang. I awoke this morning to a large number of emails and tweets decrying Uniloc's actions regarding a law suit against Swedish firm Mojang. Firstly, besides having shares in Uniloc this has little else to do with me. The disputed patent is not mine, and I have had no communication with the company about the matter. That said, I also feel compelled to say something regarding all of the strong language and accusations being thrown around on twitter, in the press and some rather disgusting emails sent to me personally because I had the audacity to put my email address on my site. [Which I am now sadly forced to remove] From the

Ric Richardson's latest technology Instashare - coding partner needed

Ric is coming to the end of the design phase of his latest technology that will allow iPhone users to instantly share photos, videos, contact information or pretty much anything else by sharing a verbal number. Yes... by using a number only. No need for Facebook friends or email addresses. Just an app and a number. Imagine, taking a group photo and saying "my instashare code is 2481" and allowing everyone in the photo to get their copy of the photo instantly.  Imagine being in the crowd at a U2 concert and seeing a number flash on the video screens that allows you to share a photo that Bono just took on stage. iPhone Coder Needed As you can imagine Ric is quite excited by the idea but he wants to try something new. Rather than use a hired gun to code the project Ric is looking for the best coder willing to buy into the idea with their own enthusiasm. He wants to invest in passion for the idea NOT just another well paid contractor. Ric will let the successful bi
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