Hi guys, Life360's CEO here. Thanks for the help. As a bit more color, the company that is suing is seems to be failing and this is a desperate last gasp.

Checkout http://www.agisinc.com/

As Steve mentioned, we just raised $50m, so we have to spend some real cash to get this invalidated, we'll do it. When we were smaller we would just pay these assholes off, but now we have a warchest we won't roll over so easy.

If you're hoping to see patent reform, this dispute seems to be the wrong one to focus on. This strikes me as more of a genuine argument, and not a flagrant abuse of the system that would likely lead to change:

* AGIS seems to be a genuine company, that filed its own patents, and has a real product. There are much clearer examples of trolls out there.

* The patent claims are highly specific. This is not a "...on the Internet" type patent.

* Life360 is not (yet) claiming they don't infringe; they are focusing on obviousness.

* The patent system now has a relatively straightforward, quick and inexpensive system for getting a patent re-examined. Life360 hasn't (yet) said they will do that.

* The Life360 strategy seems to be primarily PR-driven: attention-grabbing language, posting things on Twitter, contacting journalists, etc. This reminds me of the legal saying: "If you’re weak on the facts and strong on the law, pound the law. If you’re weak on the law and strong on the facts, pound the facts. If you’re weak on both, pound the table."

To my mind, this argument seems more likely to boil down to "should ideas be protected by patents", instead of "should we do something about shell companies that abuse patent law to extort money".

I don't really think that AGIS is a patent troll... It looks like they're a real company that makes real products.

Calling a spade "a spade" is one thing, but this does seem a bit childish.

Edit: typo

The relevant case documents:

http://dockets.justia.com/docket/florida/flsdce/9:2014cv8065...

Just speculation (I work at Life360), but we announced our $50m Series C this week.. looks like the patent troll got the news, too.

Awesome if it is a troll. More people should do it.

It appears this is an actual company though and they filled in Florida not East Texas?

So explain like I'm five: is this an overly broad patent on an idea, e.g. they have a 'system and method for catching mice' and they're suing everyone who makes anything that catches mice? Or did they invent a particular type of mouse trap, and they're suing over someone who is selling the exact same implementation? I love a good angry mob as much as the next guy, and can fully get behind the name-calling if there's something truly nefarious, but help me understand exactly what's being litigated here and why AGIS is deserving of the 'piece of shit' label.

What i don't understand is why do they start with a lawsuit. Why didn't they contact Life360 to work something out, like a partnership. Life360 seems to be the big fish. A greedy small fish trying to eat a big fish is a bad idea i think.

This is HN now.