EA opens up more patents for increasing Accessibility in gaming - eviltoast

Alternate headline: “EA did a good thing in latest attempt to get off naughty list”

    • echo64@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      65
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      this is opening up patents, so yes, in a world like ours having something be patented, but royalty free and anyone can use is much better than the alternative. which is either one company owning it and licencing it. or a patent troll getting it and making it even worse.

      the sarcasm in this case, is not warranted. this is a good thing.

        • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          48
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          11 months ago

          Then a patent troll steals it and makes things worse for everyone.

          Patenting something then immediately opening it up is by far the best option.

          • Poayjay@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            12
            ·
            edit-2
            11 months ago

            That’s literally not a thing. Once something is publicly disclosed it can’t be patented (unless it is by the discloser during the one year grace period). You can’t take someone else’s invention and patent it. If someone does you can invalidate their patent without even a lawyer. If you want something you invent to be free for everyone the best thing you can do is get it out into the world and not patent it.

            • fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              19
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              11 months ago

              You’re not supposed to. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

              Nobody wants to spend the court costs to get a patent troll stripped of their bad patent. And for a patent troll you’re going to need a lawyer, they’re going to fight tooth and nail to keep it since that’s their source of income.

              • Poayjay@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                3
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                11 months ago

                Once again, this is not true. They do what is called a prior art search as part of issuing a patent. They look worldwide for anything that could be considered your invention before your filing date before issuing a patent. Even after a patent is issued, if prior art is presented to the patent office they can rescind the patent. It’s a form and like $100. You don’t need a lawyer to bring prior art to the patent office’s attention. The legal battle will be between the patent office and the patent troll if they are trying to contest the prior art.

            • Perroboc@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              7
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              11 months ago

              Oh boy are you wrong. Check out the patents to polio vaccines, or Volvos three point seatbelt.

        • GorgeousDumpsterFire@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          edit-2
          11 months ago

          …leaving the idea unclaimed for someone else to patent instead? Strange take.

          The patent system is far from perfect, but patents themselves are necessary. EA had an idea, they had the right to patent it. They had the right to keep the patent closed, instead they opted to open it.

    • Hydroel@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      11 months ago

      Doesn’t “opening up patents” means that anyone can use the ideas behind the patent without charge? Which means that it’s actually not locked anymore, so yes it does help?