Cisco (and other companies) makes the routers and switches that form the backbone of the internet. Other companies are wanting to compete in this expanding and lucrative market. Cisco is using lawyers and legislation to block them. This is not what capitalism is about. From technology newsletter CRN:
Cisco Seen As Trying To 'Slow Down Arista Anyway They Can' With Patent Lawsuits
Partners say Cisco's end game with its patent lawsuits against Arista Networks is simply to slow the fast-growing networking company and stunt any innovation efforts from competitors.
"Cisco's goal is to try to slow down Arista and competitors any way they can," said Chris Becerra, president and CEO of Terrapin Systems, a Morgan Hill, Calif.-based Arista partner. "If they don't have the technology to beat them out there, they're going to try to slow them down any way possible."
Last week, the San Jose, Calif.-based network giant won three of five patent infringement suits against Santa Clara, Calif.-based Arista dealing with its networking switches. The International Trade Commission recommended a ban on Arista product imports containing the infringing technology. Additionally, the ITC also ruled earlier this year that Arista infringed on several other Cisco patents pertaining to its private VLANS, system database and externally managing router configuration with a centralized database -- recommending a similar ban on Arista imports.
Yeah - if there is a clear case of patent infringement, file a suit. Do not file a suit hoping to discover something later and meanwhile cost them the additional lawyer fees hoping that they go bankrupt. There are enough consumers out there for everyone.
The people who will be suffering is We the People as we will be forced to use stale old technology and not cutting edge tech from innovative companies. Without serious competition, there is no motive to innovate and with Cisco killing its competition, we are developing just this scenario. Cisco is firmly in the red zone of the Right enemy of this graphic:
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