I.V. Drip

Just heard a stunning This American Life (TAL) episode about the patent wars raging in the Bay Area.  Stunning on many levels.

Let me begin with an innocent tale of a cutting edge company I read about some years ago, Intellectual Ventures.  The idea was to bring together varied thinkers from the tops of their fields, and convene them around a table, to discuss real problems and issues of the day.  There might be an oncologist, an engineer, a physicist, a molecular biologist, a visual artist, etc.  And on the agenda might be a range of topics including MS, or breast cancer, say.  The neurologist might lead off with the state of science surrounding MS to date - or perhaps just a description of the demyelination process.  This is then bandied about by the meeting of disparate minds - the sculptor might ask what in fact nerve tissue actually feels like, in a tactile sense, while the engineer might ask exactly by what mechanism the flow of blood into the brain is 'filtered' and prevents immune cells from gaining access in one without the disease.  A discussion might ensue that opens up new directions for further research, or even for bona fide applications.  Which then might be patented and sold, leading to the betterment of the condition of us all.

What a lovely idea I thought.  But according to the TAL episode, Intellectual Ventures (IV) has become possibly the biggest and most powerful 'patent troll' in Silicon Valley.  Very few of their own patents have come to see the light of day, and in fact the company now spends most of its resources purchasing patents from other inventors, and selling them to other companies which use the same or similar technologies.  Or more often suing them.  Many of these companies are hit broadside; and faced with possible ruin of their small startups, will agree to settle out of court rather than face millions in legal fees.  Meanwhile, IV was started with billions of dollars of venture capital, investments which are hoping for huge returns.  IV has found that being a patent troll a far more lucrative endeavor than the actual pursuit of ideas to solve problems and alleviate suffering which got them started.  Of course they don't admit this, and their VEEP's and PR people claim that their efforts do even more to encourage innovation.

The investigative journalism provided by TAL, however, presents a far different conclusion, even suggesting that, to the contrary, patent troll's (especially ones 'on steroids' as IV is described), actually inhibit innovation.  Amazing story, I recommend it to all.  Archived TAL stories can be found at thislife.org beginning a week after airing, and listened to on-line, or pod-casted, for free.

Does IV break any laws?  If not, one wonders whether the patent system in general should be reworked so that innovation is truly encouraged once again, as it may have, in days of yore.

This bud's for me?

What's that? Let me mute this a sec.

I don't know, the jury is still out.

On Saturday I listened to 'This American Life' in the privacy of my own little portable head phone/hd radio I got as a premium from the local NPR station.

What I had been promised was a day sponsorship in memory of Loret from me and the boys. On her birthday. But they missed that day. So they tried again, on the anniversery of her death - May 27 - and the one time I tuned in to hear it (out of three total), Garrison Keillor made no mention of my deceased spouse. The times they gave me, I was later told, were only approximate. Anyway, the message had indeed aired they assured me, and a friend mentioned hearing it. And besides, I am such a huge fan of public radio, it is like icing on the cake - a 'premium' that is - I'm very happy to support one of the last vestiges of independent journalism.

Saturday's T.A.L. episode was rather brilliant, I laughed out loud several times - like a lunatic, such outbursts coming from no stimuli apparent to my sons. I wanted to call them over to listen, but didn't, they couldn't without interrupting the flow of the story, turning on the radio, and maybe the funny part was done anyway, etc. Sometimes when the show is on the radio they will listen in. (But more often ask me to please turn it down as they watch Scrubs or Family Guy, or some other wholesome show. Or play a video game.)

While it is true the sound quality was superior to our usual radio, and I could move from room to room, push a vacuum or broom, lift a barge, tote a bale, whatever. Maybe sit down and write a symphony or play Halo 3. Or in my case do my p.t. exercises then eat lunch.

Which seems just about as complicated an activity as I could be expected to do - and still enjoy the show. But I'm not sure I even want to do that. I'll try it again, maybe wear it to the gym tomorrow. It's not like I talk to many folks in the gym anyway. But when people wear the ear buds listening to god knows what, it's like they aren't there - or I'm not.

Old dog, new trick? Maybe. I'll see how the gym goes. If I remember, that is.

Next day update: went to the gym today. Instead of the hd radio I went with my son Eli.

Also, here is a blog my sister mentioned that teases out some of the baby boomer generation's angst/disgust about the new media: http://www.londonlee.com/page/2