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DrewCurtis_2012-_如何打败“专利钓鱼者”_
Last January, my company, Fark.com, was sued along with Yahoo , MSN, Reddit, 去年一月,我的的公司Fark.com,跟雅虎,MSN Reddit,AOL,TechCrunch
sued:v.控告;提起诉讼;提出请求;(sue的过去分词和过去式) Yahoo:n.粗鲁的人;
AOL, TechCrunch and others by a company called Gooseberry Natural Resources . 以及其他几个网站 被一家叫做“醋栗自然资源” (Gooseberry Natural Resources)的公司给起诉了
Gooseberry:n.醋栗,鹅莓;醋栗酒;醋栗树; Resources:n.[计][环境]资源; v.向…提供资金(resource的第三人称单数);
Gooseberry owned a patent for the creation and distribution of news releases via email. “醋栗”拥有一项关于 用电子邮件制作和传播 新闻的专利
patent:vt.授予专利; adj.专利的; n.专利权; creation:n.创造,创作;创作物,产物; distribution:n.分布;分配;分发;分销; releases:n.释放; vt.释放; via:prep.通过;经由;n.道路;[医]管道;
(Laughter) （笑声）
Now it may seem kind of strange that such a thing can actually be patented , but it does happen all the time. 这种东西都能被专利,我知道挺搞笑的 不过这种事儿的确时时刻刻都在发生
patented:adj.专利的;
Take something already being done and patent it for an emerging technology -- like phone calls on the internet or video listings for TV shows or radio but for cellphones , and so on. 把已经存在的东西据为己有 为新兴的技术申请专利—— ——像是网上电话 或者是电视节目的视频清单 或者是手机广播 诸如此类
emerging:adj.新兴的;v.出现,浮现,露出;暴露;(emerge的现在分词) technology:n.技术;工艺;术语; listings:表; cellphones:n.手机;移动电话;(cellphone的复数)
The problem with these patents is that the mechanisms are obscure and the patent system is dysfunctional , and as a result , most of these lawsuits end in settlements . 这些专利的问题在于 它们的运行机制很晦涩 整个专利系统也很混乱 导致最终大多数的诉讼都以庭外和解告终
patents:n.[专利]专利(patent的复数形式);专利权; mechanisms:n.机制;[机]机构(mechanism的复数);机械;[机]机构学; obscure:n.朦胧; adj.无名的; v.使模糊; dysfunctional:机能失调的,功能障碍的; as a result:结果; lawsuits:n.诉讼,法律诉讼;控诉(lawsuit的复数形式); settlements:n.协议:处理:结算:定居点;(settlement的复数)
And because these settlements are under a non-disclosure agreement, no one knows what the terms were. 但是由于在和解中所签署的条款都是保密的 所以没有人知道协议里到底说了什么
non-disclosure:n.不揭露;守秘密;不提供资料;
And as a result, the patent troll can claim that they won the case. 那么那些“专利钓鱼者”就可宣称 他们赢了官司
troll:n.山精,巨怪;v.曳绳钓(鱼);拖钓;搜查; claim:v.要求;声称;需要;认领;n.要求;声称;索赔;断言;值得;
In the case of Gooseberry Natural Resources, this patent on emailing news releases had sort of a fatal flaw as it pertained to myself, and that was that in the mainstream media world there is only one definition for news release, and it turns out that is press release -- as in P.R. 在和醋栗自然资源公司的官司中 这项关于邮件新闻发布的专利 对于我的公司来说 其实有致命的缺陷 那就是在主流媒体界 关于“新闻发布”的定义只有一项 那就是有关公共关系的 媒体新闻发布
emailing:n.电子信函;vt.给…发电子邮件; fatal:adj.致命的;灾难性的;毁灭性的;导致失败的; flaw:n.瑕疵,缺点; v.使生裂缝,使有裂纹; vi.生裂缝; pertained:vi.属于;关于;适合; mainstream:n.主流; media:n.媒体;媒质(medium的复数);血管中层;浊塞音;中脉; definition:n.定义;清晰度;(尤指词典里的词或短语的)释义;解释; press release:n.(向媒体发布的)新闻稿;
Now my company, Fark, deals with news, ostensibly , and as a result we were not in violation of this patent. 我的公司——Fark 显然是在做真正的新闻而不是公关 因此 我们应该没有侵犯这个专利
ostensibly:adv.表面上;外表; violation:n.违反;妨碍,侵害;违背;强奸;
So case closed, right? 官司完了？
Wrong. 省省吧！
One of the major problems with patent law is that, in the case that when you are sued by a patent troll, the burden of proof that you did not infringe on the patent is actually on the defendant , which means you have to prove that you do not infringe on the patent they're suing you on. 专利法的一个大问题就是 当你被一个“专利钓鱼者”起诉的时候 被告有义务证明自己 没有侵权 这意味着你不得不自证 你并没有侵犯他们在起诉中提到的那个专利
burden of proof:n.举证责任; infringe:vt.侵犯;违反;破坏;vi.侵犯;侵害; defendant:adj.[法律]被告的;辩护的;n.[法律]被告人;被告方; suing:v.控告:提起诉讼:(sue的现在分词)
And this can take quite a while. 这会花很长时间
You need to know that the average patent troll defense costs two million dollars and takes 18 months when you win. 要知道通常在于“专利钓鱼者”之间的官司中 你平均要花两百万美元和 18个月来取得胜利
That is your best case outcome when you get sued by a patent troll. 这就是当你被一个“专利钓鱼者”起诉时 能得到的最好的结果
outcome:n.结果,结局;成果;
Now I had hoped to team up with some of these larger companies in order to defend against this lawsuit, but one-by-one they settled out of the case, even though -- and this is important -- none of these companies infringed on this patent -- not a one of them. 我本希望能和那些大公司联手 来打这场官司 不过一个接一个的,他们都和解了 尽管如此——这很重要—— 他们中没有一个 真正侵权了——一个都没有
team up with:与…合作,与…协作; settled:adj.稳定的; v.结束; (settle的过去分词和过去式) infringed:vt.侵犯;违反;破坏;vi.侵犯;侵害;
And they started settling out. 但是他们还是选择了和解
settling:n.安置;固定;沉淀物;移居;v.解决;安居;(settle的现在分词)
The reason they settled out is because it's cheaper to settle than to fight the lawsuit -- clearly, two million dollars cheaper in some cases, and much worse if you actually lose. 他们庭外和解的原因是 这比打官司要便宜 很明显,有时甚至要便宜两百万 而且你还很有可能输——如果情况更糟的话
It would also constitute a massive distraction for management of a company, especially a small eight-man shop like my company. 这还会大大分散公司管理层的精力 尤其是我们这样的八人小公司
constitute:v.组成;构成;(合法或正式地)成立,设立; massive:adj.大量的;巨大的,厚重的;魁伟的; distraction:n.注意力分散;消遣;心烦意乱; management:n.管理;管理人员;管理部门;操纵;经营手段; especially:adv.尤其;特别;格外;十分;
Six months into the lawsuit, we finally reached the discovery phase . 在官司进行了六个月后 我们终于进入了互相举证环节
finally:adv.终于;最终;(用于列举)最后;彻底地; phase:n.阶段;时期;月相;(月亮的)盈亏;v.分阶段进行;逐步做;
And in discovery phase, we asked the patent troll to please provide screenshots of Fark where the infringement of their patent was actually occurring . 在这个阶段 我们要求这个“专利钓鱼公司”提供 我们Fark公司 侵犯他们专利权的 屏幕截图
screenshots:n.画面;截屏; infringement:n.侵犯;违反; occurring:n.事件;事故;事变;
Now perhaps it's because no such screenshots actually existed, but suddenly Gooseberry wanted to settle. 当然了,可能是因为根本就没有这么一个截屏存在 总之“醋栗”突然想要和解了
Their attorney : "Ah, yes. My company's having a reorganization on our end." 他们的律师说 “呃,那啥,我的客户公司最近重组了。”
attorney:n.律师(尤指代表当事人出庭者);(业务或法律事务上的)代理人; reorganization:n.改组;整顿;改编;
Never mind the fact that the address led to a strip mall somewhere in Northern L.A. 当然了我们先不计较他们公司的地址 其实是在北洛杉矶的某个购物中心里
Never mind:没关系; strip mall:n.商店街;
with no employees. 而且一个雇员都没有
'"And we'd like to go ahead and close this out. “我们决定干脆把这个官司给停了
So would you mind giving us your best and final offer?" 你介不介意给我出个价？”
My response : "How about nothing?!" 我说: “你觉得一个子儿都没有怎么样？”
response:n.响应;反应;回答;
(Applause) （掌声）
We didn't have high hopes for that outcome. 我们本来真没指望结果是这样的。
(Laughter) （笑声）
But they settled. 不过他们和解了
No counter offer. 没有还价
Now, as mentioned before, one of the reasons I can talk to you about this is because there's no non-disclosure agreement on this case. 像我之前说过的 我之所以能谈论这件事的原因之一是 我们没有签署非披露合约
Now how did that happen? 怎么可能？
Well during the settlement process , when we received our copy, I struck it. 在和解过程中,当我收到合约的拷贝时,我大改了一通
process:v.处理;加工;列队行进;n.过程,进行;方法,adj.经过特殊加工(或处理)的;
My attorney said, "Nah, no chance of that working." 我的律师说“呃,估计这没戏”
It came back signed. 但是他们签了
Now why? You can call them. 为什么呢？你可以问他们
They're not under NDA either. 反正他们签的也是非披露合约
Now what did I learn from this case? Well, three things. 我从这个事情中学到了什么呢？三件事儿
First of all , if you can, don't fight the patent, fight the infringement. 第一 如果可以的话 别在专利本身上纠缠,而是要去讨论是否侵权
First of all:adv.首先;
Patents are very difficult to overturn . 专利是很难被推翻的
overturn:vt.推翻;倾覆;破坏;vi.推翻;倾覆;n.倾覆;周转;破灭;
Infringement is a lot easier to disprove . 证明没有侵权的话会容易得多
disprove:vt.反驳,证明…是虚假的;
Secondly, make it clear from the beginning that either you have no money at all or that you would rather spend money with your attorney fighting the troll than actually giving them the money. 第二,在一开始就让他们明白 你根本没钱 或者你与其给他们钱你更愿意 把钱花在打官司上
would rather:宁愿,宁可;
Now the reason this works is because patent trolls are paid a percentage of what they're able to recover in settlements. 这之所以有效的原因是 “专利钓鱼者”们 会得到和解金额的一部分
trolls:n.山精,巨怪;v.曳绳钓(鱼);拖钓;搜查;(troll的复数和第三人称单数); percentage:n.百分比;百分率;利润的分成;提成;
If it becomes clear to them that they cannot recover any money, they become less interested in pursuing the case. 如果他们明白他们真的拿不到钱 那么他们就不会兴趣把这个官司继续下去
pursuing:v.追求;致力于;贯彻;跟踪;追赶;(pursue的现在分词)
Finally, make sure that you can tell them that you will make this process as annoying and as painful and as difficult as possible for them. 最后,一定要让他们知道 你会尽你所能把这个官司弄的 极其让他们头疼,让他们烦恼 让他们觉得难以处理
annoying:adj.烦人的;使生气的;使烦恼的;v.使生气;打扰;骚扰;(annoy的现在分词) painful:adj.痛苦的;疼痛的;令人不快的;
Now this is a tactic that patent trolls are supposed to use on people to get their way. 这本来是他们那些“专利钓鱼者”为了让人们妥协 而用的伎俩
tactic:n.策略,战略;adj.按顺序的,依次排列的; supposed:adj.误信的;所谓的;v.认为;假设;设想;(suppose的过去分词和过去式)
It turns out, because they're paid on contingency , it works really, really well in reverse . 不过由于他们胜诉收费制度的存在 这策略用在他们身上也极合适
contingency:n.偶然性;[安全]意外事故;可能性;[审计]意外开支; reverse:n.反面; v.颠倒; adj.相反的;
Don't forget that. 千万记好
So what does all this mean? 那么这些事儿到底说明了什么呢？
Well to sum up, it boils down to one thing: 简单总结一下就是 这可以得出一个结论
Don't negotiate with terrorists. 不要跟恐怖分子谈判
negotiate:v.谈判,商议;转让;越过;
(Applause) （掌声）
Patent trolls have done more damage to the United States economy than any domestic or foreign terrorist organization in history every year. 这些“专利钓鱼者”对美国经济造成的伤害 比任何本土或者国外的 恐怖组织都要大 每年都是
United:adj.联合的; v.联合,团结; (unite的过去分词和过去式) economy:n.经济;节约;理财; domestic:n.佣人;家佣;家庭纠纷;家庭矛盾;adj.本国的;国内的;家用的;家庭的;
And what do they do with that money? 他们用这些钱干什么呢？
They plow it right back into filing more troll lawsuits. 他们把它用在申请更多的钓鱼诉讼上
plow:vi.[农机]犁; vt.[农机]犁; n.[农机]犁;
Now this is the point in the Talk where I'm supposed to come up with some kind of a solution for the patent system. 现在我要说说我应该怎样 为我们的专利体系想出个什么解决方法
come up with:提出;想出;赶上; solution:n.解决方案;溶液;溶解;解答;
And the problem with that is that there are two very large industry groups that have different outcomes in mind for the patent system. 问题是 两个重要的的行业却对 我们的专利体系有着 两个不同的想法
outcomes:n.结果;成果;后果;出路;(outcome的复数)
The health care industry would like stronger protections for inventors. 医疗保障系统 希望发明者被重点保护
health care:n.卫生保健;
The hi-tech industry would like stronger protections for producers. 不过高科技产业呢 则希望生产者被重点保护
hi-tech:adj.高技术的;
And these goals aren't necessarily diametrically opposed , but they are at odds . 他们的两者并不是完全的对立的,不过他们的确有分歧
necessarily:adv.必要地;必定地,必然地; diametrically:adv.完全地;作为直径地;直接地;正好相反地; opposed:adj.强烈反对; v.反对(计划、政策等); (oppose的过去分词和过去式) odds:n.几率;胜算;不平等;差别;
And as a result, patent trolls can kind of live in the space in between. 因此,“专利钓鱼者”们就从这两者之间的分歧区域寻找机会
So unfortunately I'm not smart enough to have a solution for the patent troll problem. 非常不幸我并没有聪明到能 想出一个解决办法
unfortunately:adv.不幸地;
However, I did have this idea, and it was kind of good. 不过,我确实有个小想法 而且它似乎还不错
And I thought, "I should patent this." 我觉得:“我得给它申请个专利”
(Laughter) （笑声）
Behold , patent infringement via mobile device -- defined as a computer which is not stationary . 注意——移动设备上的专利侵权—— 就是在一个可移动电脑上的专利侵权
Behold:v.看;注视;把...视为;int.瞧;看呀; mobile:n.手机;汽车;移动电话;adj.活跃的;可动的; device:n.装置;策略;图案; defined:adj.有定义的,确定的; v.使明确; stationary:adj.固定的;静止的;定居的;常备军的;n.不动的人;驻军;
My solution: award me this patent and I will troll them out of existence. 这就是我的解决方法:给我这个专利 我钓死那帮玩意儿
Thank you. 谢谢！
(Applause) （掌声）