Patent or perish: the best defense is a good offense

Author

Donner, I.H.

Author_Institution

Lowe, Price, LeBlanc & Becker, Alexandria, VA

Volume

28

Issue

6

fYear

1995

fDate

6/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

84

Lastpage

85

Abstract

Peach Pit and Stem (PPS) Corporation called a meeting with Rinky-Dink Mom-n-Pop Shop to discuss Mom-n-Pop´s recent rise to fame and fortune in the telecommunications industry. After extensive research and testing, Mom-n-Pop had implemented a low cost private communication network by using fiber optic cables and ceramic mugs rather than the traditional string and paper cups. (The ceramic mugs reportedly facilitate converting voice messages into digital signals that can be transmitted over fiber optic cable.) PPS has been losing sales on its extensive telecommunications network ever since Mom-n-Pop introduced its network. Joseph Blower, president of PPS, seemed anxious for the meeting, so Mom and Pop Jones (owners of Mom-n-Pop) felt confident that he was ready to put his cards on the table. Mom was hoping for some kind of joint venture, while Pop expected a takeover attempt. The PPS actually accused Mom-n-Pop of patent infringement

Keywords

legislation; patents; telecommunication network management; Peach Pit and Stem; Rinky-Dink Mom-n-Pop Shop; ceramic mugs; digital signals; fiber optic cables; legislation; low cost private communication network; patent infringement; telecommunications industry; Ceramics; Communication cables; Communication industry; Communication networks; Costs; Defense industry; Marketing and sales; Optical fiber cables; Optical fiber testing; Optical fibers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Computer

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9162

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2.386990

Filename

386990