[ltamake]

So this wouldn't be considered "patent trolling"? I know Microsoft has had quite a history with Android and I always assumed it was just them using their patents to make some quick money.

Great answer, by the way. Definitely cleared up a lot of questions I had.

[bradleyland]

The term "patent trolling" is generally reserved for companies who have no intention of bringing a product to market. Keep in mind that Microsoft has a competing product in the market, and spends millions of dollars on R&D.

Patents are a way of protecting a legitimate R&D effort. Imagine the disincentive with regard to R&D if a company had no protection from a competitor simply taking their idea once they came to market.

The key is to protect patents from abuse, while still providing a means to protect legitimate effort in innovation for a reasonable period of time.

[orangecat]

Imagine the disincentive with regard to R&D if a company had no protection from a competitor simply taking their idea once they came to market.

Yes, allowing any random developer to create a spreadsheet or first person shooter or social networking app would obviously bring innovation to a crashing halt.

[Steko]

Wow three straw men in one sentence. Well played I guess.