Forum Discussion

cleverusername's avatar
cleverusername
Explorer
12 years ago

VR Patent Analysis

http://greenbaumpatent.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/a-virtual-reality-patent-landscape-analysis/

The graph above shows the companies that have acquired virtual reality patents (purchased or otherwise became the assignees of the patents) between 1993 and 2012. Sellers of patent assets include Sensable Technologies, Nortel, Virtual Technologies, and Mixed Reality Systems. At least one of the acquiring companies is a well-known Non-Practicing Entity (sometimes known as a Patent Assertion Entity or “patent troll”).

In conclusion, the IP landscape of the virtual reality space tells an interesting story. Despite the fact that there has never been a truly successful commercial virtual reality platform, there are a surprising amount of VR patents and transactions involving those patents. This phenomenon will create both opportunities and liabilities for start ups and other companies looking to enter the industry.



4 Replies

  • raidho36's avatar
    raidho36
    Explorer
    12 years ago
    The whole patent system is a rotten outdated piece of crap that instead of serving it's true purpose served as a scamming tool back then, and which goes the same way 'till now.

    It was supposed to protect individual inventors. Instead, it creates firm grounds for big companies to sue their competitors to death. Oh and no individual inventor is really allowed to hold their patent either.
  • EarlGrey's avatar
    EarlGrey
    Expert Protege
    12 years ago
    A broken patent system is a scary thought, but the court system is also very broken when it comes to patents. There should be special patent courts, so you don't have to go through an expensive and lengthy legal trial. Special patent courts exist in Germany I believe.

    Every technology that someone conceives of today is probably patented already. It discourages new enterprises and there are many cases were entrepreneurs are simply knocked down by patent trolls via extortion or lawsuits. They sit on their patents, doing nothing with it except suing anyone who has somewhat similar vague idea.

    I hope OculusVR does not have problems with patent trolls, that would be horrendous, but it is no unimaginable, since VR is a concept that has existed for a long time and in all likelihood there are many patents out there on that. Most likely the trolls are waiting for their success, then they come knocking alleging infringement and wanting a big sum of money as compensation.
  • Ophtalmos's avatar
    Ophtalmos
    Honored Guest
    11 years ago
    Interesting stuff. I assume this has all been already "priced in" by Oculus and investors when evaluating the business model. The fact alone that this is one has specs that different should be worth something.
  • cleverusername's avatar
    cleverusername
    Explorer
    11 years ago
    Ophtalmos, you would think with Lonsdale, thiel, andreeson, etc on board in various ways that even if they step on a few toes, a phone call from one oligarch on one part of the planet to an oligarch on another could readily solve some issues? I must plug an old IBM colleague again, Peter Nolan. He assures that from patents, to unfair divorce courts, to welfare and social security systems that some western governments are not going to remain, and all their laws, socioeconomic systems will be toppled/changed soon.

    All my history professors told me Rome fell when their nation could no longer squeeze anymore from the citizens to support the military.