MysticSlayer said:
In some cases, it may really be about bettering people's lives, but for the most part, it is probably all about business. For larger companies, it is another avenue of revenue and ways to integrate their products into people's lives. For smaller companies, it may be about finding that one thing that helps them make it big.
I agree. I would say that the bettering people's lives part is when a single person or small group in a company create something new with mostly noble intentions, but without the foresight to see if the idea can be twisted. The big companies sure as hell only wish to use the positives as selling points on the new product and downplay or ignore the negatives (and later exploit those negatives, if possible as additional revenue streams).
OT: I forgot to mention this originally. At least these are only patents, that may not ever become products during the duration of the patent. (Of course, now everyone knows someone thought of this idea and can be inspired to make a Wifi spy teddy themselves, either under license, after the patent expires, or on the down low.)
In fact, maybe Google is being a valiant knight, by twisting the concept of a patent troll into something that can benefit society. As long as they own the patent, they can sue anyone trying to spy on people this way.
Ah, who am I kidding? This is the first step towards a real life version of the Tediz from Conker's Bad Fur Day. Only this time, they'll be powered by Google Adsense.
