Originally Posted by
Shareholder
Isn't that like having the government confiscate your private property? Isn't that why the US has been blockading Cuba for all these years? Patents are property rights and why shouldn't the owner be the only one to decide how to exercise those rights during a period protected by law? There are many other capsule systems so what's the problem?
Darned if any sensible person can figure out why Cuba is still being, theoretically, isolated.
As for patent licensing, just suppose IBM or Intel could freeze all other electronics makers out using patents. Or, suppose, J&J refused to allow your local hospital to use some patented item which would save your life--unless you paid fifty mil to J&J for something that cost a dollar?
Anyhow, your opinion is not the law. Our laws do allow for mandatory licensing--and this has proven to be better than no such licensing.
Anyhow, and sort of back on topic--the Big N (I do believe by far the biggest food marketer in the world) does have market power to exclude competition which it is evidently doing with its coffee machines.
By the way, had coffee at Peet's this morning. Much better than out of the capsule.