> The problem with filing the patents personally is that it's expensive to do
You can get a patent for under $1000 and that patent is likely to be worth significantly more to a company whose looking to build their portfolio for defensive measures.
> and astronomically expensive to defend them
Agreed, but I'm sure these individuals had no intention of defending their patents. Unlike trademarks, patents don't become invalidated if the owners fail to go after infringers.
> they have become a May Day parade of tanks used to impress
> the enemy with how powerful you are.
I think an arms race is a better analogy than a parade. Most (though not all) companies pursue patents because they feel they need to in order to avoid annihilation -- not because they want to show off.
You can get a patent for under $1000 and that patent is likely to be worth significantly more to a company whose looking to build their portfolio for defensive measures.
> and astronomically expensive to defend them
Agreed, but I'm sure these individuals had no intention of defending their patents. Unlike trademarks, patents don't become invalidated if the owners fail to go after infringers.
> they have become a May Day parade of tanks used to impress > the enemy with how powerful you are.
I think an arms race is a better analogy than a parade. Most (though not all) companies pursue patents because they feel they need to in order to avoid annihilation -- not because they want to show off.