Expiration of Major Cybersex Patent Could Set Off Explosive Innovation

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Friday marked a major milestone for the more than $15 billion adult toy industry, with the expiration of a longstanding patent. The basic idea behind the expiring patent is almost as old as the internet – that two users might sexually stimulate each other using devices controlled over the internet.

This week marked a major milestone for the more than $15 billion adult toy industry, with the expiration of a longstanding patent on sex toys controlled over the internet. The patent has been held in recent years by a company widely regarded as a ‘patent troll,’ focused not on developing usable technology, but instead on seeking monetary damages from anyone who infringed on their claim to the idea.

Source: Ars Technica

Date: August 20th, 2018

Link: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/08/cybersex-toy-industry-heats-up-as-infamous-teledildonics-patent-climaxes/

Discussion

1) What is a patent troll?

2) It has been said that music and the sex industry are the first to feel the impact of technology developments.  Why is this, and why is it important for every other industry?

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