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Comment by Hostile | Hacker News Reader

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Hostile·

To my knowledge Google has never used a patent offensively.

I assume that your comment is referencing things like the recent nortel patents with Apple and Microsoft.

Well, you can't even remotely say that those companies haven't used patents offensively.

I really don't think it's hypocrisy until Google starts behaving like Apple and Microsoft when it comes to patents.

Do you really not believe there to be a difference?

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If they go through a rough patch and get acquired or there is a change of management, it could happen. Patent reform is what we need, NOT anti-competitive patent stockpiling.

The Google Trio holds over 50% of the voting stocks.

No. I'm not referring to the Nortel Patents. Google already owns patents and none of them was used offensively.

My comment is a reply to chocopuff, not you.

Neither has MS, until their backs were against the wall.

How was MS had a back against a wall? They went after Android phones for patent infringement. They extorted money from Amazon for Kindle. And now they suing Barnes & Noble as well. And they have spread FUD about the Linux kernel violating their patents but have so far refused to be specific about what patents they are talking about.

It seems to me that MS is as much predator as prey.

Their share price has been going badly. Employee stock options are no longer an effective way to retain people, and they are losing long term employees to the likes of FB and G.

Thanks. And please forgive me the quality of my posting (I wrote it before getting my morning caffeine).

no offense taken. This is the problem with defensive patents. A company would be remiss to their shareholders if they didn't deploy it offensively when things don't go their way.

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