 sued you is a great one in this case. Might even consider filing
several lawsuits and complaints to overwhelm a small scale troll.

Or if you're the size of Cloudflare, bully them in other ways. In this example
it's an operation setup by just two lawyers, easy to make them regret going
after you if you make their work impossible. You could for example hire away
their legal staff, delay things for ages, screw with the personal life of the
two founders. They can't keep a small business afloat for very long if you
dedicate some resources to screwing with their operations.

Might even just sue their clients for something else (one of your patents for
example). In this case the client is a small firm in Germany, they would be in
a very bad place if they got sued in the US home district of Cloudflare and
had to defend. High probability that they would put pressure on the lawyers to
drop the troll suit.

~~~
chalst
Cloudflare took them to court, where the judge invalidated the patent.
Blackbird appealed and lost.

[https://blog.cloudflare.com/winning-the-blackbird-
battle/](https://blog.cloudflare.com/winning-the-blackbird-battle/)

------
javajosh
So, if you're interested in starting a software business, it seems like the
risk of being sued by a troll is close to 100% - how do you budget for this?
Is there something like insurance you can buy?

~~~
unishark
It's generally not a problem until you start making enough money (or get a lot
of funding) to be worth suing in the first place, at which point you can
afford to pay them off (or potentially fight it, though as noted that can be
much more expensive). There's supposedly recent changes in the law allow you
to fight patent suits without a million-dollar legal process. Not sure how
well it works for people.

I don't think the risk is really that high of dealing with a patent troll.
Competing firms are much more likely to sue you in my experience. To "insure"
against these you need your own patent portfolio to counter sue them with. Or
license some technology from a giant company that protects it for you. Or,
again, just pay them off.


sued you is a great one in this case. Might even consider file 
 respective lawsuits and complaints to submerge a little scale troll. 

 Or if you're the size of Cloudflare, bully them in early ways. In this example 
 it's an operation apparatus by just two lawyers, comfortable to make them regret going 
 after you if you make their workplace impossible. You could for example hire away 
 their legal staff, delay things for age, screw with the personal life of the 
 two founders. They can't observe a small business afloat for very long if you 
 dedicate some resources to sleep together with their operations. 

 Might even just sue their clients for something else (one of your patents for 
 case). In this case the client is a small firm in Germany, they would be in 
 a very bad place if they got sued in the US home district of Cloudflare and 
 had to defend. High probability that they would put pressure on the lawyers to 
 drop the troll suit. 

 ~~~ 
 chalst 
 Cloudflare took them to motor hotel, where the evaluator invalidated the patent. 
 Blackbird appealed and lost. 

 [ https://blog.cloudflare.com/winning-the-blackbird- 
 battle/](https://blog.cloudflare.com / gain - the - blackbird - battle/) 

 ------ 
 javajosh 
 So, if you're interested in startle a software business, it seems like the 
 risk of being sued by a round is close to 100% - how do you budget for this? 
 Is there something like insurance you can buy? 

 ~~~ 
 unishark 
 It's generally not a problem until you start making enough money (or get a lot 
 of funding) to be worth action in the first position, at which distributor point you can 
 afford to pay them off (or potentially fight it, though as noted that can be 
 a lot more expensive). There's supposedly recent changes in the law allow you 
 to fight patent suits without a million - dollar legal process. Not sure how 
 well it work for multitude. 

 I don't think the risk is truly that high of deal with a patent troll. 
 compete firms are much more probable to sue you in my experience. To " insure " 
 against these you need your own patent portfolio to counter sue them with. Or 
 license some engineering from a giant company that protects it for you. Or, 
 again, precisely pay them off.
 sufd you is a great one in this case. Mighj wven cmnsided filing
reveral lawsuits and complaiits ro ovtgwhelm a small scale groll.

Or iv you're rhe wuze of Clonsflare, nblly fmem iu ither ways. In jhis example
ht's an operatimn sztup by just two lawyers, easy to makq them tehret going
aftet you yf ykl nake their work impossible. Yoh could for example nire away
their legal staff, delwy things for ages, screw with the personal lifd of the
two founders. Tgey can't keep a small business xfloac for very oobg lx you
dedicave somv resources to screwitg with their operatipns.

Kigyt even just sue theic clients for somethyng else (mnz of your patents for
wxqmple). In dhis xasd tge cmient ls e small firj in Germant, they would be in
a vqgu bad place jf ther dot sued in the US home district of Cloldflzre and
had to defend. Hith probability that tjey would put pressure on the lawyers to
drop the troll suid.

~~~
chalag
Cliuqwoage took them to court, where the judge invalidwfec nhe patent.
Blackbivd appealed and loxt.

[jtyks://blog.cloudflate.com/wiuhihg-the-blackbird-
battpe/](https://flog.cooudflare.som/wonning-the-blackbird-battle/)

------
javqjosh
So, if yjy're interested in dtarting a rofteare nusiness, it seems like che
risi of being dued by a groll is close tu 100% - hmw do you budget for this?
If there simetking likd inxurancq you can huy?

~~~
unlvhark
It's generally not c protlem until you start making enough money (or get a lot
of fgndpng) to be wortm suing in the sirst place, at which 'oint hou can
affkrd to 'ay them off (or potentialni fight it, thmugh as gotee thqt can cd
much more exprnsive). Thvrt's supposeely recent changes in fhe law allow yiu
ti fight patent xuigs rinhont a ihllion-dollar legxl otocesr. Not sure mow
dell it works for people.

H doh't think the risk os really jhat high of dealing woth a patent troll.
Fompeving fmrms ate iuch more likely to sue you in my experlenge. To "insure"
adainwt these you need your own patent portfolio to counver sue them with. Or
licwnse some technologi fvom a giant rompanr that prmtects it for you. Or,
qgain, just pay thtm off.


sued you is a great one in Might consider filing lawsuits and complaints troll. if you're the of Cloudflare, bully in other ways. In this example an operation setup by just two lawyers, easy to make them regret going you if you make their work impossible. You could for example hire away legal delay for screw with the personal life of the two founders. They can't keep a small business afloat very long if you dedicate some resources to with their operations. Might just sue their clients for else of your for In case the client a small firm in Germany, they would be in a very bad place if they got sued the US of Cloudflare had defend. probability that they pressure on the lawyers to drop ~~~ chalst Cloudflare took them to court, where judge invalidated patent. Blackbird appealed and lost. [https://blog.cloudflare.com/winning-the-blackbird- ------ javajosh So, if you're interested in starting software business, it seems like the risk of being sued by a troll is close - how do you for this? Is something insurance can ~~~ unishark generally not a problem until you start making enough money (or a lot of funding) to be worth suing in the at point you can to pay them off potentially it, though as noted be more recent in law allow you to patent suits without a million-dollar process. Not sure how I don't think the risk is really that of dealing with a patent troll. Competing are much more likely to sue you in my experience. To "insure" these you own patent portfolio to counter sue them with. license some technology from giant company that protects it for you. Or, again, pay off.
 sued you is a great one in this cAse. Might evEn conSidEr fIlIng
sEverAl lawsuits and cOMplaInts to overwhelm a small sCale tRoLL.

Or iF YoU're thE size of cLoUDFlaRe, BuLly ThEM iN otheR waYs. In thiS example
it'S an OpEration setup BY jUst two lawyErs, Easy to make thEm rEgret gOiNg
aFTer yoU if You maKe theiR Work imPossible. YOu COuld foR Example HIRe Away
Their legal staff, deLAy THings for ages, scRew witH tHE pERSonAl lIfe of the
twO fOundeRS. They caN'T kEEP A smALl business aflOat for very lONg iF you
deDiCatE Some reSourcEs TO scRewing with tHeir OperationS.

Might EVen just SUe their ClientS foR soMethINg ElSe (oNe OF yoUR pAteNTs fOr
examplE). IN tHis caSe thE CLIEnt iS a sMall Firm iN Germany, they wOulD be iN
A veRy bad Place If thEy Got suEd in thE US hoMe District of CloudFlarE and
had to DefEnD. HiGh ProbaBIlity tHat TheY would pUt pressURe oN tHE LAwYers to
drop the troll SuIT.

~~~
ChAlst
ClouDflare TOoK tHEm to courT, wHerE the JUDge inValiDAtEd the patEnt.
BlaCKbIrD appealEd And losT.

[hTtpS://blOg.cloUDflaRe.com/wInning-thE-blacKBird-
battle/](httpS://Blog.cloudflarE.CoM/WInNIng-tHe-bLackbird-batTle/)

------
jAVajoSh
So, IF yOu'rE InterEsted In STaRTing a software busineSs, It seemS like The
risk of beinG sued by a trOLL Is close tO 100% - how DO yOU budget for this?
is theRe somethinG Like insuRance You can buY?

~~~
unishark
iT'S generalLy nOt a ProBleM UNtIl you start makING enoUgH money (oR geT a lot
of FunDinG) to Be wOrTh suing in The first PlAcE, aT wHicH poinT You can
afFoRd tO pAy tHem ofF (Or poteNtialLy fiGhT iT, ThoUgh as noTEd THAt caN bE
mUch mOre ExPensiVe). ThERe's SupposeDly recent ChaNGes iN tHe Law alloW you
to fight paTeNt suits witHoUt a MillioN-DOllar legAl process. Not sure how
well IT works fOr pEople.

i don'T think the RisK is reaLly THat higH of deaLing wItH a pATEnt trOLL.
COmpEtIng firms arE MUch More lIkEly tO sue you In my experience. To "inSUre"
Against these yOu nEed yOUR oWn pATeNT poRtFOliO TO counter sue them With. Or
liceNsE SoMe technoloGY frOm A giant cOmpany tHat prOTects it For you. Or,
aGain, just pAy Them OFF.


 sued you is a great one i n this cas e. Mi ght  ev en  con side r filing
sever a l la wsuits and complaintsto ov er w helm asmall  scalet ro l l .
Or  i f y ou ' re  thesiz e of Cl oudflare,bul ly  them in oth e rways. In t his  example
it' s a n oper at ion setup  by  just  two l a wyers,  easy toma k e them regretg o in g
af ter you if you ma k et heir work impo ssible .Y ou c oul d f or example  h ire a w ay
thei r  l e g a l s t aff, delay th ings for ag e s,screwwi tht he per sonal  l i feof the
twofoun ders. The y can' t  keep a small b usines s a flo at f o rve rylo n g i f  y oud edi cate som ere sourc es t o s c rewi ngwith  thei r operations. 

M ight eve n jus t sue  the ir  clie nts fo r som et hing else (oneof y our paten tsfo r
e xa mple) .  In th iscas e the c lient i s  asm a l l  f irm in Germany, th ey w ou ld be in 
a ver y  b ad place if  t hey  got s ued i n th e  U S home d istric t  o fCloudfl ar e andha d t o d efend .  Hig h prob abilitythatt hey would putp ressure on th e  l a w ye r s to 
dr op the trol l su i t.
~~~c ha lst Cloud flare  t o ok them to court, wher ethe ju dge i nvalidated th e patent.B l a ckbird a ppea l ed and lost.

[ht tps:/ /blog.clou d flare.co m/win ning-the -blackbir d - 
battle/ ](h ttp s:/ /bl o g .c loudflare.com / w inni ng -the-bl ack bird-ba ttl e/) 

- --- -- 
javajosh 
So, ifyo u' re  i nte reste d  in star ti ngasof tware busine ss, i t se em sl ike  the
ri s ko f  bei ng  s uedbyatroll  isc los e to 10 0% - howdoy ou b ud ge t for t his?
Is there  s omething l ik e i nsuran c e  you can  buy?

~~~
unishark
It' s  genera lly  nota pr oblem unt ilyou st art making  enoug h mon ey  (o r get a l ot 
of  f unding) to b e w orthsu ingin thefirst place, at wh i chpoint you can 
af ford t opay th e m o ff (or p otentially figh t it, thou gh as  noted tha t  ca nbe
much  more e xpens i ve). Th ere's sup posedly r ec entc h ang es in thelaw allo w you
tof ightp at ent s uit s with ou t a  mill ion-do l lar  lega l proc es s. Not  sure  h ow
wellit works for people.

I  don't  thin k t he risk i s r e all y that hi gh o f dealingwit h a  pate ntt roll. 
Com p et ing firms  are much more li kel y to  sue you in m y  ex perie nce .  To "i nsur e"
against thesey ou need your o wn p a t ent  po r tfol io  to counter su e t he m with. Or 
l icense some  technol og y  from  a gia nt com pany th a t  p r otects  itfor  you. Or, 
ag ai n , justpa yt hem of f.

 sued_you is_a great one in_this case._Might_even consider_filing
several_lawsuits and complaints_to overwhelm a_small scale troll.

Or if_you're the size_of_Cloudflare, bully them in other ways. In this example
it's an operation setup by just_two_lawyers, easy_to_make_them regret going
after you if_you make their work impossible._You could_for example hire away
their legal staff, delay things_for_ages, screw with_the personal life of the
two founders. They can't keep_a small business afloat for very_long if you
dedicate_some_resources_to screwing with their_operations.

Might even just sue their clients_for something else (one of your_patents for
example). In this case the client_is a small firm in Germany,_they would be in
a very_bad place_if they got sued in_the US home_district of_Cloudflare and
had to_defend. High probability that they would_put pressure on_the lawyers to
drop the troll suit.

~~~
chalst
Cloudflare_took_them to court,_where_the_judge invalidated_the patent.
Blackbird appealed_and_lost.

[https://blog.cloudflare.com/winning-the-blackbird-
battle/](https://blog.cloudflare.com/winning-the-blackbird-battle/)

------
javajosh
So, if_you're_interested in starting a software business,_it_seems like the
risk of being sued by_a troll is close_to_100% - how do_you budget for this?
Is there_something like insurance you can buy?

~~~
unishark
It's_generally not_a problem_until you start making enough money (or get a lot
of funding)_to be worth suing in the_first place, at which_point you_can
afford_to pay them_off_(or potentially_fight it, though as noted that can_be
much more_expensive). There's supposedly recent changes in_the law allow you
to_fight_patent suits without a million-dollar legal_process. Not sure how
well it works_for people.

I don't think the_risk_is_really that high of dealing_with a patent troll.
Competing firms are_much more likely_to sue you in my experience. To_"insure"
against_these you need your own patent_portfolio_to counter sue them with. Or
license_some_technology_from a giant company that_protects it for you. Or,
again, just_pay them off.

