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Patent reformer morphs into patent troll?

By Lawrence B. Ebert, Esq.

Bedrock Computer Technologies (owned by Dave Garrod) has sued Google, Yahoo, Amazon and others in ED Texas over US Patent 5,893,120.

In discussing Dave Garrod's actions in initiating a lawsuit in ED Texas, Ryan Paul wrote:

Another characteristic that makes this case unusual is the person behind it. Bedrock Computer Technologies is owned by David Garrod, a former Goodwin Procter lawyer who is an active contributor to patent reform efforts. Garrod is leading an initiative against false patent markings in collaboration with PubPat, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2003 to fight against abuses of the patent system.

(...)

IP reporter Joe Mullin tracked down PubPat founder Dan Ravicher and asked if he was aware of Garrod's outside activities. Ravicher has a pragmatic view of the issue and says that Garrod's commitment to fighting against false marking makes him a valuable partner for PubPat despite his outside trolling work.

"Without Dave's assistance we couldn't do this campaign, which I'm convinced is a public good," Ravicher told Mullin. "We disagree about software patents. Dave's going to do that other stuff, with or without the false marking campaign."

Ryan Paul seemed to be confused about the strategic role of naming defendant CityWare:

Bedrock Computer Technologies, the company that filed the patent suit, likely named CityWare in the suit solely to increase the chances of having the case heard in that region.

Ryan, ED Texas likes all patent suits. Say VW and ask the Federal Circuit.

Ravicher led the ill-fated re-exam expedition against the stem cell patents of WARF using non-enabled references and conclusionary declarations, and was smoked by the USPTO.

Full post as published by IPBiz on July 29, 2009 (boomark / email).