ThePatentScam

[@Hoodie]

Oh my god, the fact that they can get away with this is insane on itself

[@Perkele_Itse]

That's 'Murica for ya

[@slipperyjim1497]

The system is set up by lawyers. Almost all of our politicians are lawyers too.

[@RosinGoblin]

welcome to America

[@Red23UK]

Homeless people on the street yet so many empty offices run by leeches. Seem fair to you?

[@modularmoon]

Yeah not to mention the millions of dollars they're squandering interfering with actual technological developments, -at the very least they're wasting space!

[@paperbox819]

I had this happen to a company I worked for. Don't know all the details, but my company decided to pay rather than fight it in court cause it's cheaper. Such a scam! These people are the leeches of society.

[@ingibingi2000]

they intentionally pick an amount that is just in the threshold to not to be worth it to fight.

[@tylerminnesma108]

This seems like a job for John Oliver and his team

[@Zlaterrr]

I thought the same thing.

[@Rougeish1]

IK im going to regret asking this but why do you say that?

[@sfduck]

great call

[@edwardwonghaupepelutivrusk9270]

+Ian Morris yea? how so?

[@zdgSRghE]

+Mii Sho I MEAN COME ON ITS 2016 -le funny xd TV man

[@cmmmmmmmw]

Someone should drag those lawyers into the street and give them what they deserve. No one would miss them.

[@redshirtforall]

Except their family. Friends?

[@FireLysm]

If family and friends don't turn them in, they deserve the same.

[@redshirtforall]

Lol. And people like you actually exist. No wonder the world is such a Hell-hole.

[@redshirtforall]

acetate909 It's always funny to see supposed religious individuals say "Amen" and then condone someone committing suicide/violence to a human life. Religion right there folks.

[@ogreavesx]

"Knock Knock Knock Knock... Hellope?"

[@jordan5253]

lmaooooo

[@chankong1790]

yo fr 😂

[@ubnerlewt]

I came to the comments just to see if this was posted. Ahaha.

[@JNeverMindMe]

We should make this a thing.

[@sarcasmo57]

Lawyers truly are the scum of the Earth.

[@sm00thns]

there is at most just one lawyer can file those, at least i think you need one with some kind of license, anyway the idiots behind this are just people that know a bit how to use google to find the crap they can sue. the rest is copy pasta.

[@peted2002]

Unfortunately these laws, patent and otherwise, are all written by lawyers. The only way they can make an income is through fees charged to their clients, and suing everyone else. Patent trolls and collection lawyers are the worst scum of the bunch. These "offices" are pretty much nothing but mail drops, since they know they'd probably get taken out by someone they've screwed over. The only place you'd find them is in a courtroom, where they can fiscally rape their victims with impunity. Nothing will change until the law does. Good luck with that though because it's going against lawyers in THEIR playground. It's a sad, sad situation.

[@austinmeyer]

+Pete D Well, that does indeed sum it up.

[@CitywideJ]

This just seems to be a "Merica" thing though, i cannot phantom how retarded this is.

[@sinni800]

The point Lawyership became a profit-oriented industry is the point we went wrong. Really sad. I think lawyers do not give anything worthwhile to the world, opposite to builders, metalworkers, etc... who actually do something tangible.

[@sinni800]

+Trapcard Not a Merica thing, there are a few small island countries with LOTS of mailbox companies. Saving tax, avoiding laws in your own country, etc.. In Germany it's a tradition to always sue in front of the same court in Hamburg because they're very friendly towards trolls

[@kandyrew]

this is amazing

[@MrChewbacca9000]

wut r you doin here

[@theLittle726]

Wtf yea what is a dirty bomb guy doing here

[@faraleth2154]

Ew, I see a DB scrub. ;D

[@CarMaintenanceGuy]

The best way to combat this is to never give a physical address on any place where you reside. If anyone comes looking to serve you, do the same thing they did in the video. Never be around to be found. They can't sue you if they can't serve you. That's why they set these empty offices up to firewall themselves from being sued. They know how to play the game. We tried to sue somebody and they were never home. The process server gave up. We went back to the court house and asked, "Okay, now what?" The court replied, "If you can't serve them, you can't sue them." So the very best thing you can do is dodge all process servers. Always use a PO Box or Mail Box Etc address for 100% of your correspondences. Have your car insurance, electric bill, credit card bills, car loans, driver's license and everything that anyone mails you going to these boxes. That way if anyone ever tries to sue you, you'll never be around. That's why these lawyers do the same. They are making it 100% impossible to ever sue them because their offices are all empty. The guy in the video was smart enough to check them all out. Now they are all exposed. Anyone being sued by these companies should take it as a grain of salt and ignore them. They are all scammers.

[@austinmeyer]

I live in a house. Anyone can find my address.

[@Tasurincci]

And a juridic personality wouldn't do the trick?

[@CarMaintenanceGuy]

Just do what works. What is working is never being around. I've had dozens of process servers come looking for me with zero luck and the cases get thrown out.

[@austinmeyer]

What do people try to sue you for so often? Google requires a street address to work with them using their store and stuff.

[@CarMaintenanceGuy]

I never use their store. My address has nothing to do with Google. It has everything to do with my electronic paper trail. All of my credit reports and everything have my physical address as being a post office box. If anyone comes looking for me, they will never find me. God forbid you lose a job or what have you, the credit card companies won't be able to sue you or anyone else for that matter. As the lady from the courthouse told us, and I quote, "If you can't serve them, you can't sue them." I had a hospital sue me for $5,000 for some some sleep test. Sleep tests should only cost a few hundreds to do. The hospital wanted to get greedy. They got paid over $1,000 from my insurance company. They sold the debt to a debt collection agency who tried to sue me. All the times the process servers came I was never home. I would see them in the videos from my surveillance cameras after I got home. After that I forwarded all my mail. So the next time you move, get the PO Box and forward all your mail. Change your driver's license, car insurance, credit cards and 100% of everything to that new address. NEVER, EVER, under any circumstances give out your real physical address. If you cut somebody off in traffic and they get some friend of theirs to look up your license plate, you could avoid flat tires or eggs on your car at the very least!!

[@EricHunting]

As a victim myself of a similar litigation mill working for the college textbook publishers, I really appreciate this video. Thank you very much for making and sharing this. The public needs to be made more aware of this scam industry. We're all paying a price for this litigatory onanism. These people are a blight on our society, a drag on our economic productivity, and an offence to the principles of law. They need to be stopped.

[@oldbroken1]

It seems patent-lords have abandoned their thrones, Ashen One.

[@7000skull]

lol

[@NinjaSynik]

Well, all but Ludleth of McKool Smith (sounds like a law firm).

[@miketv75]

You are a superhero.

[@codygarvin3202]

Austin, thanks so much for putting this together. I really hope we can get some light shining on this grim area. Buying another copy of X-Plane just to help support ;)

[@austinmeyer]

+Cody Garvin oh thanks!

[@flynnbarnard2935]

They should make this guys life into a film. And have Will Ferrell as the main character!

[@ApteraEV2024]

6yrs, it took me 6yrs to Find You! Thank you for being ä Model Citizen, All Your Children are Proud of You!!

[@devvvvvvvvvvvv]

McKool Smith sounds the name of one radical dude.

[@bannedfromtv2102]

MC Kool Smith...

[@IBRA760]

I think it's two separate surnames

[@benbenpotato]

Sounds like a law firm

[@AnarchoHumanism]

I'm still amazed I got to see the creator of x-plane!!!

[@JS-qg1ie]

The funny thing is that they’ve patented the idea of suing companies for patent infringement. I kid you not. Great work Austin. Loved your film. It’s amazing how high this corruption goes. Is there something in the water in Texas? Bush and Cheney are from there aren’t they?

[@OmidGaming]

Hello Austin! I have done some more research on your situation and have found out that you won! I am very proud of you and made a reaction to your video here, I was wondering if you could react to my reaction of your video.

[@MrChaluliss]

This is so important, SHARE THIS PEOPLE

[@pjt]

Random thought. Maybe you can file a patent for a means of making money without producing any goods or providing any service, and then sue patent trolls for infringing on your patent? One can only wish

[@JS-qg1ie]

pjt Believe it or not- the patent trolls have actually done that. One guy put a link on one of Austin’s videos.

[@huckles6054]

Your door knocking skills are on point my friend

[@snipingpyro]

i lost it when he knocks on the clearly empty offices.

[@ItNeverHurtToThink]

What a gross misuse of the system. These leeches need to be pushed out of the country

[@InfinityNYC]

Keep fighting the good fight, sir.

[@JonnyUnderrated]

This is great thanks for actually doing this my man! No one really knows. Also your moustache is fantastic and youre rad.

[@Lostinthelowbrass]

When the banjo chimed in, I was hooked.

[@CyberSystemOverload]

Im so glad you won this Austin, this patent trolling business is just so rotten and unbelievable.

[@Jakeykeywheels17]

John Oliver did a whole thing exposing this industry.

[@rtaylor3350]

Hi Austin, Marshall Feature Recognition, their lawyer is Austin Hansley, the same lawyer that was involved in suing me and 3 others with #Garfum's invalid patent the owner now transferred the patent to his other business #Mindtrig. Marshal Feature Recognition is still actively suing last I checked I think in May

[@guru332]

Unbelievable that such an extortion racket can be legal in the USA in 2016!!

[@fetchjim]

The historic county courthouse shown in the video now hosts a nice history museum. Patent trials are actually held across the street, in the federal courthouse building that looks like (and once was) a post office.

[@kd1s]

Go lookup who owns the building. That's who you want.

[@Dreadnaught1985]

Most likely it's not... those will be rented offices to act as a surrogate so that they can sue using that specific states legal system. Texas is a very pro property and patent state. So it makes sense that if you want to be a patent troll you sue them in Texas.

[@RobinsM]

No, you want who is paying the bill to rent the space.

[@JohnDoe-uq2qd]

The buildings just want someone to pay for the offices, they don't give a shit who.

[@professorprofesserson728]

This is good stuff, I'd show it to some news channels. Might be worth some coverage.

[@AndroidOO3]

They claim the be based in this town. They could have actual offices anywhere. They do it to get to that one court that typically rules favorably on software patent cases. Not sure if that's something to be shocked about, though :-/

[@bluehornet6752]

I'm going to patent the practice of patent trolling, and then sue these patent trolls for patent infringement. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[@jthomas.]

Patent trolls >< ughh. It's infuriating that you have to go through this, but thanks for standing up to these extortionists. I hope that one day you and all the other business owners that won't take one lying down are vindicated and the trolls have to pay all your fees plus some penalties. Keep fighting man, you are the head on the spear that will lead to patent reform.

[@TheDragert]

Hard to take anyone seriously when they record themselves vertically.

[@kennysmith1925]

Guy knocks on door... No one is there! My God!

[@aaronsbot]

Can you sue someone for trying to sue other people for ridiculous reasons?

[@10kz]

You cant stop people from doing them, however some states have punishments for what they call in court "vexatious litigants".

[@LanceThumping]

That's probably why they are based in Texas, I bet there isn't a punishment like that.

[@mracicot]

Any time you hear a politician talking about "tort reform", PAY ATTENTION. They may be serious...maybe not...but the ones talking about it are more likely to actually DO something about it than the rest who won't even acknowledge that there's a problem. Tort reform, in short, is about refining the legal system to stop crap like this. Frivolous lawsuits like this would be allowed under most tort reform I've read, but THE LOSER PAYS. This is a good first step toward stopping the insanity. Imagine if the legal dregs who are suing Mr. Meyer actually had to go to court because Mr. Meyer's team showed up and Mr. Meyer wins. The losers who started the suit would be out their own costs PLUS those of Mr. Meyer. Let's take this to the aviation industry in general. Why to GA aircraft cost so much? The companies making airplanes have to have BANK for when an owner/pilot does something life-endingly stupid, so the pilot's surviving kin blame the manufacturer. Example: pilot leaves off the fuel cap, runs his tanks dry, crashes and dies. Family sues the aircraft company for there not being a safety system to stop the gas from coming out. (See how it's the manufacturer's problem now?) Of course, anti-reform people (mostly lawyers) will argue that it hinders people's ability to sue and get payments. Yes, that *could* happen...but it mostly affects the crap Mr. Meyer is fighting. This isn't a 'Murica' thing (GAWD, how I hate that term!). This is a human nature thing. As long as there is a monetary incentive for (and a legal avenue for scum to exploit), this will keep happening.

[@aaronsbot]

Thank you everyone! very informative ;)

[@swiftkaos3]

In Australia if ya not gonna win you don't sue cause you will be up for the other parties full costs. It actually means if I sue you and its certain i will win.. you will settle out of court with me in a conference room with our lawyers and a justice of the peace( or court appointed official).. this saves you money of my full court costs. Also means on cases where you will win lawyers will jump to represent you knowing there costs are covered by the other party. essentially means any frivolous lawsuits will cost me and wont cost the other party a cent. And frees up court backlog. so when ya say this isn't a murica thing ?. I think well we have had laws which stop stupid people here for a very long Time. Want to know something awesome about politics they don't even need new idea's to solve issues they just need to evaluate what other countries have done and steal there most effective ideas for cost. I like Norways prison system and Portugal's drug reform. Oh and our gun laws :P Frances health system kinda rocks free doctors come to your house.

[@clunkmess]

I admire you, sir. For your bravery and for not putting a case on your 6 Plus.

[@PC_Powerlifting]

this should be a documentary

[@kentlofgren]

Well made video, thanks for taking the time and to provide this information. Job well done!

[@rgs4x]

This just re-enforces my belief that lawyers are the cause of all the worlds problems. F-them.

[@AlexMoranBMS]

My mom is a lawyer who does medical malpractice for a hospital, and helps makes people's lives better. not all lawyers are pieces of shit, now go be a dumbass elsewhere.

[@NotBen101]

So they pretty much set up a whole bunch of entities and they keep offices for those entities and have a CPA such as the guy you talked to incase if they get audited and pay taxes and all those entities do is buy patents and sue other companies via the law firm

[@modularmoon]

thnks for making this video! would be great if the media was able to track down some of these people and get an actual interview with one of them.

[@zippyzee]

i dont know what to do with the information in this video

[@JohnDoe-uq2qd]

Don't get sued. If you do, you're fucked and there's little you can do about it.

[@zippyzee]

fizzle mygrizzle why would i get sued?

[@JohnDoe-uq2qd]

zippyzee Well if you're like the guy in this video, uploading an app you made to the google store is all it takes to get sued.

[@zippyzee]

fizzle mygrizzle so why would anyone ever upload an app to the google store?

[@JohnDoe-uq2qd]

zippyzee To make money?

[@thmsrttg]

Oh I just love this sort of investigative journalism. I love Austin Meyer!

[@KiyaWarrior]

So what, these guys aren't allowed to work from home?

[@seth.heerschap]

Lawyers have nothing better to do than screw innocent people...

[@YungSkitty]

overgeneralization

[@seth.heerschap]

+TheDementedWendigo *some people... I didn't mean all lawyers, but how else was I supposed to get your attention?

[@Cowabungas]

Thanks for blasting that folk music for half a second between each door.

[@swagraptor5477]

I don't totally understand. If they didn't have a valid case they wouldn't win. So don't they have a reason to sue?

[@andy3109]

What most trolls do is buy patents from inventors/companies that they think they can use as a basis to sue other inventors/companies. These people never developed/produced/worked on anything related to the technology. They aren't using the patent to protect their company from infringement, they are simply a legal entity to make money on other peoples ideas...the patent system was never meant to behave in this fashion.

[@zbeast]

They win often just because people pay to make them go away.. Unless you have big pockets like dell, google, microsoft, etc.. you can't afford to fight... These trolls make nothing.. will make nothing often the patent is on something that is just a description of an idea and not even a valid working design. But they try use the patent vagueness to try to say it's a match. The Government really needs to rework this process to stop this bs.

[@stlouisarch2162]

I read about these guys a couple of years ago on a legal blog called Popehat (popehat,com). Don't laugh, well, okay, do, it's pretty funny. The masthead has a picture of a cat wearing a...pope hat. But they do good legal analysis, and they have a group of attorneys all over the country who volunteer when the call is put out there. You might give them a shout and see if they have any insight. Good for you sir, for fighting back. Most people or companies just give in to make it go away, which encourages them further. Good luck in your battles with these...(self-redacted).

[@darkking222]

knockknock knock knock

[@darkking222]

+MrCpetti wrong door sry

[@rida81]

we knew this was the case. but it's amazing you went and confirmed it. this is the worst stuff. sheesh.

[@mshaneweaver1]

Help me understand what's going on here. Empty buildings, empty offices, middle of no where. Is the scam that it's all one person doing this with fake businesses? If so, why go to all that trouble?

[@stlouisarch2162]

This outfit will sue individuals or companies for patent infringement on some absurd basis. They'll sue for crazy amounts of money, but offer a settlement for a much lesser amount. Most people or companies just pay that sum to make the thing go away. For a detailed explanation of both the patent troll 'business model' and these guys in particular, do a search online for 'Popehat.com' and 'patent trolls'.

[@mshaneweaver1]

+Keith Pearson I fully understand patent trolls. I'm asking about this endless list of empty offices in the middle of nowhere Texas.

[@stlouisarch2162]

+Shane Weaver Popehat did an extensive look at these guys in particular.

[@wjggmt1180]

We really needed more footage of the plane. Sign me, Pvt/IFR/Multi/Seaplane

[@modskii]

This is insane! Please make a follow up video if you find something!

[@32deej]

put the name of the lawyers or their company in your title or description in case anyone else finds themselves in your situation by them

[@subthermosphere]

Glad you fought them! Great job Austin

[@ollie9539]

the scariest thing is that he filmed vertically

[@ollie9539]

the first part atleast

[@boredinlecture]

Does someone have a patent on right channel audio?

[@sajsed2]

Thank you sir for bringing brigs to light, excellent work, please continue to make great content.

[@digriz602]

My left ear enjoyed this.

[@badgerjoe21]

For some reason I totally love the banjo music in the background that is just awesome and that's a nice plane that he's got too love it!

[@luciusquinctiuscincinnatus6627]

Astonishing

[@gregnulik1975]

Why can't these companies just say shut the hell up and go back to your, tiny, state!? Those are some rather big corporate names to embargo.

[@ericbergfield6451]

Wow, so this scheme basically prints money...

[@ManuelSolisJimenez]

I knida expect Saul Goodman to come out of some of those offices.

[@jros2721]

I love the humble brag of having an airplane

[@jros2721]

What? Does your brain even process what I said? He clearly says "Hopped into my little airplane"

[@tiberiu_nicolae]

You mean you don't have one? lol

[@alonsovalencia3362]

but if i win in the case, do they get slammed with damages? or costs for suing me? im a Lawyer in Colombia if this was the case here all lawsuits will merge in just one and if they lose they have to pay.

[@davewilson1548]

Bring in John Oliver.

[@patbahn]

Austin is an amazingly brilliant developer.

[@adamhope3617]

well.... this is the most American thing I have seen ever.

[@ingibingi2000]

i really hope you have the time and resources to fight them. a counter sue is a must if you can and you need to go the distance. adam carolla did and it was beautiful

[@Tomtom59625]

littlefinger is that u

[@HuckleMedia]

😂😂

[@austinmeyer]

I prefer "Lord Baleish", please.

[@pizza_joe2202]

+pizza man cousin?!

[@Tomtom59625]

is that really you joe??

[@SaiyenInlineSkater]

the mindfuck they taking up space and not using it, what the fuck...

[@billalexander2288]

There should be a new rule on owning offices.

[@sinni800]

Then there's gonna be a small table and a computer in there... And if you want to force them to have someone working there, a whole new job oppurtunity opens: Occupying offices doing NOTHING

[@StevenRoose]

Why is your sound only on the left speaker (except for the song)? My left one is broken so I cannot hear you speak after the intro..

[@nicolasjay8850]

+MrCpetti wtf...?

[@andersffs]

Loool, only my right speaker works on my headphones so I can't hear a thing xD omg

[@JWard2]

What the fuck is happening? This is like something out of the twilight zone.

[@the4thyeoman]

please fix the audio issues the banjo music blares but you can barely be heard

[@voogru]

I believe some employees at Sun Microsystems had a game they played. The game was what is the more ridiculous thing they could get a patent on for software. They got awarded all kinds of dumb patents.

[@outdoordave296]

TL;DW guy knocking on doors and nobody answers

[@jean-sebastiendulong-grego2023]

I hope you win your case mister !

[@TheMonoxide27]

As an attorney, all I have to say is that, as shitty as it is, this is all completely legal. Nothing illegal about this.

[@lukedotcom]

And where are the real lawyers? When they appear from their hidden caves? Why they have empty offices? Maybe they sue people trying to get some easy money with lies. If you go to court you will win because they don't exist.

[@TheMonoxide27]

A company's office bringing suit is not the same as the law firm bringing the suit. The offices he is going around to are the offices of the companies that are hiring the firms, not the firms themselves.

[@aaronw8023]

Why the vertical camera?! [in the beginning]

[@rickhctep1503]

How come there is no sound apart from the music, can you make this video again using sign language.

[@tomatobrush3283]

Patents should be abolished!. Read the book, Against Intellectual property.

[@kinkade8925]

Agreed. Intellectual Property always seemed like a distortion of what property actually should be. There's no scarcity of it. What if a clothing company could patent a certain type of clothing? What if a car manufacturer could patent a certain type of car? What if a philosopher could patent a certain way of thinking? We would live in a bleak, vapid world.

[@tomatobrush3283]

Kinkade If you look in to the anti IP arguments, what will stand out eventually, is that nearly all the popular talking points on the topic are the opposite of what is actually true. It helps innovation. no it actually prevents innovation. It helps the small business guy. No it helps the large business. and so on.

[@kinkade8925]

Am I a Bernie supporter? Far from it. I'm an unabashed supporter of free markets.

[@Plzbanme]

They are important.Small companies get no foot hold without them. It should be a use it or lose it system really. It would cut down the sue happy companies and allow small companies to get off their feet.

[@gvhagopia]

How about we just enact the laws we currently have? None of these software patents actually meet the criteria to be patentable, they are patenting things that are either obvious or were in textbooks 40 years before filing. The patent office is disastrously underfunded, understaffed, and unable to properly determine what should be rejected and what should be granted. But if you remove intellectual property entirely you'll end up with a situation like what you see in China, which is an absolute disgrace. I'm not sure if you mean just patents or if you also think trademark and copyright should be abolished, but either path would lead to disaster. Why would Merck invest $10B in a new drug if they know they will make no profit on it? We need to fix the system, not discard it.

[@TheIvanProductions]

Very interesting video but please fix the stereo-sound.

[@t0ny747]

Austin, please don't film vertically! Its almost worse than patent trolls! :p

[@Nathanielguy]

What's the name/artist of the song at 1:25?

[@Speedy.V]

really like the bluegrass music

[@YusufAhmed1000]

4:27 when two reddit wizards meet.

[@ILiveAndBreathe]

sounds like the same thing that happened to Carolla...

[@ktktktktktktkt]

the sound only coming out of my left earbud gave me a bit of a headache but still a very interesting video.

[@JonnyUnderrated]

Hey bud, maybe your buds are off, bud.

[@ktktktktktktkt]

nope, buds are fine on every other video and the issue is only when he uses the cameraman like from 1:44

[@BadMannerKorea]

So....how do I become a patent troll? Do I have to be a lawyer first? Seems like you could make some money...maybe.

[@JohnDoe-uq2qd]

If you're a total scumbag with no empathy or regard for human decency, all you need to do is get a law degree and start suing people.

[@Geo001yt]

Keep X-Plane up we need it your doing awesome and thankyou for creating our home xplane

[@brucehendricks]

I'd be a little careful calling this a "scam". "IF" they hold a patent wither a related product or service that another patent infringes upon....they have every right to sue. That is the way business works, you can not steal or profit from another person's property. If the judge decides the case is correct, you lose. You can always counter sue them for legal fees.

[@Sakky_wakky]

Empty office with no furniture. They make nothing to do with any said patents and the patents them selves are full of broad words or terms...but yeah totally not a scam..

[@5000IU]

Let Louis Theroux make a documentary on this!

[@sjoerd4794]

the production quality is pretty high for a vid that doesn't have more than 1000 views..