Things are getting bad when patents begin attacking an industry which generally isn’t regarded as leading edge in technology. CIVIX-DDI is currently focused on the residential industry but how long will it be before they come after those in the corporate real estate space?
I can’t think of an industry most in need of technology innovation than CRE and the last thing needed is for a bunch of innovation killing outsiders to jump into an industry that has zero capability of fending off patent suits. CRE organizations do not have patent portfolios and any new systems or tools are bootstrapped together based on a current need. I just hope this isn’t a trend that is going to keep our industry from moving forward.