Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!think.com!barmar From: barmar@think.com (Barry Margolin) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems Subject: Re: Hayes Microcomputer lawsuit??? Message-ID: <1991Feb8.043622.13204@Think.COM> Date: 8 Feb 91 04:36:22 GMT References: <143610@pyramid.pyramid.com> Sender: news@Think.COM Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA Lines: 24 In article drmath@moocow.uucp (Doctor Math) writes: >Say, Ford has a patent covering placement of the gas pedal, and GM has >another patent covering placement, size, and functionality of the >steering wheel, while Dodge gets a patent for location of the brake >pedal. What happens? (a) the price of cars skyrockets, (b) each manufacturer >develops a different "look and feel" for their user interface. Either >way, the consumer loses. Actually, when the competitors each have their own patents, there's a third result: (c) they make cross-licensing deals, and everyone wins. Ford says to GM: I'll let you use my gas pedal patent if you let me use your steering wheel patent; GM says to Dodge: I'll let you use my steering wheel patent if you let me use your brake patent; and Dodge says to Ford: I'll let you use my brake patent if you let me use your gas pedal patent. Voila! The prices are unchanged, and cars are all compatible. Now, if Chrysler comes along and doesn't have anything of value to trade, it can't get in on the deal. The patent system encourages Chysler to invent something that the other manufacturers will need. -- Barry Margolin, Thinking Machines Corp. barmar@think.com {uunet,harvard}!think!barmar