Amazon, other large techs whine to Congress about evil patent trolls

[mandy]

U.S. politicians appeared sympathetic on Thursday to tech companies' cries for help combating what are commonly called "patent trolls"--companies that supposedly hold patents for no reason other than coaxing inflated settlements out of wealthy corporations.

"The patent system should reward creativity, not legal gamesmanship," Rep. Lamar Smith, the Texas Republican who chairs a House of Representatives intellectual-property panel, said at a hearing here entitled "Patent Trolls: Fact or Fiction?"...

Smith and Berman couldn't resist taking jabs at an ongoing controversy over Amazon.com's one-click patent, which covers a process for making online purchases in a single step and is currently under review by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The e-commerce giant earned notoriety when it asserted the patent against rival Barnesandnoble.com several years ago.

"Could not Amazon.com be accused of being a troll for patenting the one-click?" Smith asked, a wry smile on his face. ..

full article: http://news.com.com/Politicos+mull+actio...84278.html

[rose]

"Could not Amazon.com be accused of being a troll for patenting the one-click?" Smith asked, a wry smile on his face. ..

They definitely could be called one.  The giant techs want the best of both worlds-the ability to continue stealing ideas from smaller companies with immunity from lawsuits and the right to protect the few innovations their own developers bring to market.