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Comment by ahi | Hacker News Reader

IANAL, but foreknowledge of patent infringement can triple damage liability right? So is just having the headline of this story on the front page of HN enough to cause problems for the entire HN community?

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IANAL either, but I assume that they would have to somehow prove that you read it, perhaps by showing that you posted in the comments section.

Also, just because someone on the internet says "X is illegal", it doesn't actually make X illegal.

If that's the case, people should avoid clicking the link, as it mentions other patents. (I saw the list, but I didn't read any of the items in it.)

This comment is a little problematic. Despite the INAL qualifier, you seem to be offering legal advice or strategy. Secondly the logic is stretched,... viz: "enough to cause problems for the [entire] HN community?" Clearly for all of the non-infringing HN readers, and those for whom Ignorance is [not] bliss, here might be some interest in it. That being said, the point is a fair issue to raise. But a better note might be: check with counsel.

Asking a question does not denote offering legal advice.

That's my point. The post is cobbling together "foreknowledge" "infringement" "liability" into a statement with a rhetortical, "right?" tacked on. It not obviously a genuine question, though (by definition). viz:

foreknowledge of patent infringement can triple damage liability right?

Not rhetorical.

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