Freedom in Learning Innovations
Michelle Lentz Gerl,
Write Technology,
Aug 09, 2004
Elliott Masie has caused a flap in the e-learning world by sending a letter attacking the patent litigation campaign launched by iplearn, "a company with no products and a patent attorney." OLDaily readers will be familiar with iplearn; as reported here, the company has convinced various e-learning companies to settle rather than fight, including Saba, Skillsoft and Digital Think. Such settlements help no one; while they confer a short term advantage to the LMS company, they simply give iplearn money to pursue its case and they encourage other companies - such as Acacia, which is sending letters to colleges and universities demanding royalties for streaming media - incentive to continue. The education sector as a whole is weak with respect to its ability to defend against such frivolous lawsuits, and when companies that should not cave do so it hurts the sector as a whole. So the best of luck to Masie, I say, join us in the fray, late but not unwelcome.
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