Ask HN: Why is everyone mad at Yahoo?

Everyone is mad at Yahoo because they have let everyone down. Once a respectable company, they got left behind by other players because their lack of innovation. No web related (especially this big) company should afford to stay behind.<p>And now that their time to "go away" has come, they are taking all possible (legal) actions to make some more money, which, in my opinion, would just prolong their misery.<p>The fact is that Yahoo is a sinking ship and and they are trying to pull others with them as well - not that they are going to succeed. That's why everyone is mad at them: They are unable to go down with their heads up.

&#62; <i>...corporations try to make the most money, for their stakeholders, staying within those laws.</i><p>This is a pet peeve of mine. There's no fiduciary responsibility to make the most money in shortest period of time without regard for the future. In fact I would argue it's exactly the opposite.<p>Even if Yahoo wins $4 billion dollars they might lose more than that in harm to their reputation, boycotts, hiring problems, counter-suits, etc.<p>A reasonable person in their position might have <i>reasoned</i> that this lawsuit was a bad idea. Yes: it might make them some cash (which isn't their problem), but it also might hurt them in much more fundamental ways (which they can't afford).

Why not increase shareholder value through true innovation rather than patent trolling and abuse of a fragile and susceptible patent law system? I think the industry as a whole is better off when firms innovate rather than litigate. Just my 2 cents.