eBay loses patent suit

[Paddy]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030528/.../D7RAAD0O1.html

http://www.hamptonroads.com/pilotonline/bu.../bz1029bay.html

http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2001-10/Oct01-focus2.htm

Have we simply gone too far? Are we spending more time defending or trying to get around old ideas than is ultimately worthwhile? Are we stifling new ideas? All I can say for sure, is that it has made the legal profession pleased as punch!

I have at least one friend who started out as a very happy design engineer and has become, over time, a much less happy expert witness for the companies he has worked for - in both the defense and the plaintiff role. Many of these cases are so technically complex that I (and he) doubt the juries really understand - much comes down to the skill and finesse of the legal counsel.