All Encompassing Patents

SpicyMcHaggas writes "Looks like another bogus lawsuit over an incredibly broad patent on something that already exists. StarChamber, an online strategy and collectible card game seems to be one of the infringing factors, along with a player ranking system on the site. The patent supposedly covers any sort of ranking system that indicates a player's proficiency in said game. This sort of practice is what deters would-be great games from making it into the gaming world."

subject

[Tirel]

Someone should patent patents and make this madness stop!

a ranking system...

[Anonymous Coward]

Like slashdot karma?

Last post?

[kinnell]

The patent supposedly covers any sort of ranking system that indicates a player's proficiency in said game.

Sounds like slashdot could be in the line of fire.

Ranking systems patent

[gowen]

So, if there is a patent on numerical ranking systems for games, I say we defrost Ted Williams and sue his .400-hitting ass .... err, head.

Re:Last post?

[CaptainAlbert]

> Sounds like slashdot could be in the line of fire.

Karma: Classified (mostly affected by frivolous lawsuits)

And in unrelated news...

[jbottz]

In supposedly unrelated news, Slashdot has done away with the Karma system for ranking members of its online community.

Re:Proficiency?

[AndroidCat]

No, they added the magic phrase "on the Internet" which makes it new, innovative and lemony-fresh! "Goldberg patents" is right, what a bunch of Rubes!

A solution to this.

[pair-a-noyd]

Send all the lawyers to Iraq.
End of lawyer problem..

Sounds like the lastest excuse for Duke Nukem...

[Anonymous Coward]

Duke Nukem Forever, we really wanted to release it, but this patent on ranking systems got us in the shorts.

Re:Proficiency?

[Anonymous Coward]

No, this guy is patenting ranking/scores on the internet from multiplayer games that are played on the internet.

Remember, if you add on the internet to the end of any existing idea, it's suddenly a completely new idea!

For instance . . . do your taxes -- ON THE INTERNET!
read a book . . . ON THE INTERNET!
send a letter . . . ON THE INTERNET!

A rule which might help fix the litigation system:

[stealth.c]

If a lawyer's offense/defense can, in the slightest regard, be construed as dishonest or in bad faith, then the lawyer ought to be in danger of undergoing the fate the client would have in the case of a loss.

Or something similar. My point is this: I think the premise of the lawyer being the aggressive lawmucking servant of the plaintiff/defendant must be discontinued. There ought to be VERY strong incentives in the rules of litigation for the lawyer to encourage honesty and justice. With REAL CONSEQUENCES. With the current system, we have no shortage of shysters who can get away with warping the truth because hey, they're just the attorney. If we fix that, a lot of frivolous lawsuits should disappear. Imagine every SCO lawyer jumping ship very early in the game.

Re:Patent craziness...

[iminplaya]

Well, It has been that way since laws were "invented". I wonder if anybody patented "laws".