[huhtenberg]

> If Thinking Media had the patent hack in their documents, the story I just told would not have happened.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

1. Nielsen could've offered a small pile of cash (and/or a commission) to the patent holders to get them participate in the lawsuit.

2. Nielsen could've pressured the company it bought the patents from to pressure the authors to remove the clause from the patent (I'm sure it's doable, one way or another).

This "patent hack" basically assumes that individuals are more ethical than companies, and I think this assumption is flawed. Companies don't have mortgages.

[vibrunazo]

Either would break the agreement.

> Assignees must obtain prior written permission from all of the Inventors without additional consideration or threat.