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Wouldn't creating a patent alliance render the evils of this system ineffective? Members of the alliance would work together to acquire patents, and these patents will be used as patent lawsuit deterrents. Any non-member company who sues a member of the alliance will have to face a dozen lawsuits from other alliance members. (Alliance members should sign a legal agreement not to sue other members on patent-based issues.)

Of course for this to be effective a huge number of patents is needed, but there are probably a lot of big companies willing to give big bucks to avoid the patent menace, and they can raise enough money to acquire a huge number of patents. Plus each company will come with its own patents.

I guess others have already thought of this and found it impractical, which makes me wonder why it is so.




That sounds kind of like the [Open Invention Network](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Invention_Network).


or the mpegla? not sure we want more of those.


That sounds a lot like Intellectual Ventures too, not sure if it's intended :)


I think it would be very difficult to do this without running afoul of antitrust law.




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