Louisiana Tech University patents file folders, then goes trolling

Wow frick LA Tech. That's ridiculous

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Chee Hung Ben Choi

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Quality Asian name. Here's another good one: Yao Huj Wang (pronounced Yo huge wang)

I'm honestly impressed that the guy who invented computer folders teaches as LA Tech.

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I explain these situations like this: You know what doesn't have a patent? Putting tap water in plastic bottles and selling it. Do you really think you should patent that and try to enforce the patent?

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Putting tap water in plastic bottles doesn't have a patent because that process has been used publicly for ages and the USPTO would not issue a patent for that.

I'm surprised they issued the patent.

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Fact remains that he patented a working concept in use by multitudes and partnered with a shyster enforcement firm to attempt to get a check quickly.

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This strikes me as patently un-freemarket. What's wrong with defending your idea and making some $$$? Especially when the courts rule it legal?

It's like the guys that actually read the fine print and exploit it. IIRC there was a guy in Russia that wrote in his own terms for a contract with a CC company. Company didn't read it, but accepted it anyway. Guy profits big time.

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The trick was that Agarkov simply scanned the bank’s document and ‘amended’ the small print with his own terms.

He opted for a 0 percent interest rate and no fees, adding that the customer "is not obliged to pay any fees and charges imposed by bank tariffs." The bank, however, didn’t read ‘the amendments’, as it signed and certified the document, as well as sent the man a credit card. Under the agreement, the bank OK'd to provide unlimited credit, according to Agarkov’s lawyer Dmitry Mikhalevich talking to Kommersant daily.

"The opened credit line was unlimited. He could afford to buy an island somewhere in Malaysia, and the bank would have to pay for it by law," Mikhalevich added.

Agarkov also changed the URL of the site where the terms and conditions were published and hedged against the bank’s breaking of the agreement. For each unilateral change in the terms provided in the agreement, the bank would be asked to pay the customer (Agarkov) 3 million rubles ($91,000), or a cancelation fee of 6 million rubles ($182,000).

A headquarters of Tinkoff Credit Systems bank in Moscow (RIA Novosti / Ramil Sitdikov)

However, after two years of active use, the bank decided to terminate Agarkov's credit card because of overdue payments. In 2012, the bank sued Agarkov for 45,000 rubles ($1,363) - an amount that included the remaining balance, fees, and late payment charges, which violated the actual agreement. The court decided that the agreement Agarkov crafted was valid, and required him to settle only his balance of 19,000 rubles ($575).

The bankers had to admit the mistake, says Agarkov’s representative Dmitry Mikhalevich.

"They signed the documents without looking. They said what usually their borrowers say in court: 'We have not read it,'” says Mikhalevich.

Despite the victory, Agarkov decided to sue Tinkoff Credit Systems for fines of 24 million rubles ($727,000) for not honoring the terms of the agreement, and the decision to terminate the contract without paying 6 million rubles ($182,000) fee.

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