[SEMW]

The problem is that that's not how the patent system works. If the Sonos patent is upheld, it doesn't just stop google from making speakers that synchronize their clocks with each other over a local area network.[0] It stops literally everyone other than Sonos doing that, for 20 years since the patent was filed. Even lone engineers working in their garages. Even if they independently reinvent it, patent infringement doesn't require copying, or even knowledge that the original system or the patent existed. Even if synchronizing clocks is something any skilled distributed systems engineer would think of within 10s of deciding to design such a system.[1]

It gives sonos a monopoly over the entire idea, that they can enforce against the world.

It's like cheering a law that allows anyone who wore a violet shirt in the last month to be shot, because you know someone who wore a violet shirt who you think deserved it. Maybe, but laws apply to everyone, and you're poisoning the commons just to fuck over that one person.

[0] https://patents.google.com/patent/US9195258B2

[1] the mechanism claimed being obvious to someone skilled in the art should be a reason the patent is not valid, but US courts appear to have a history of making that difficult to prove.

[josefx]

> Even if synchronizing clocks is something any skilled distributed systems engineer would think of within 10s of deciding to design such a system.[1]

Except the patent you link to doesn't sync the clocks.

[echelon]

I used to be 100% on board with you and totally agree.

The problem is that in today's world, a few players dominate the entire industry and can erase up and coming startups by simply pouring engineers and money into problems. Innovation can be copied on the cheap by these titans, leaving the hard working original inventor (companies with products and not trolls) with nothing to show.

Small companies with products (not trolls) need something to protect themselves against the giants. Because it certainly isn't a level playing field anymore.

Power is concentrated. Google and friends can't be the winners that take all.

I don't like patents. But there's no other way to survive when a giant wants to clone your product.