I should become a farmer...

... if I continue with my computer science career choice I'm liable to get sued.

Apparently the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_troll" title="Learn about " Patent troll" on Wikipedia" target="_blank">patent troll Acacia is targeting WiFi hotspot landing pages in its latest lawsuit tirade.

It's funny to note that the Acacia tree in some regions is known to house colonies of ants in its thorns which protect it from harm by other insects. In the same way, Acacia Technologies Group finds smaller patent owners and thrives due to a symbiotic relationship where Acacia uses it's clout (or shelter?) to win court battles for them, giving them a cut of the licensing fees. Acacia benefits by now owning the patents to many widespread technologies which are already in use and "ready for the suing".

I wasn't aware you could patent software in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> but apparently you can.

This is ludicrous and someone needs to stop this destructive machine now. A company with a big budget and time on their lawyers' hands needs to first prove prior art for their service, and then sue the pants off Acacia until they can no longer function.

They claim to be the champion of a good cause. Anti-competitive institutions such as the patent are fundamentally bad in my books anyway. If another company can make it better, then so be it. Exclusivity should be eliminated.

Besides which, the landing page and the redirect are DEFINITELY not new concepts, are DEFINITELY technologies with provable prior art and any lawsuit by a smaller company would be thought of as a frivolous attempt by some idiot to make a buck.

It seems Acacia is trying to be a big idiot and make that buck with its clout and make the little idiot feel good about themselves in the process.

I hate morons who can't see past their own pocketbook into the world they are destroying.<o:p></o:p>