I figured most schools, especially research-based ones like the University of Wisconsin would understand the concept everybody steals.

Yet, Apple (go figure) is being sued by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation for allegedly infringing on a U.S. patent on computer technology. According to a WARF press release, the technology was developed in a UW research lab.

Quite frankly, I’m embarrassed by the decision to sue.

If UW was suing for the money because it didn’t have any, that would be one thing. But they’re not. They’re being a 4-year-old who is angry that a friend took their toy and is now showing it off to all the 4-year-old girls at the park.

Do you think any Apple iPhone 5S users or iPad Air users will be upset to know technology in their beloved phone or pad was stolen from someone? Not a chance.

Can we backtrack and think of all the ideas that were stolen from other people to come up with the computer technology developed here at UW?

This calls forth the ongoing controversy over plagiarism and the idea of originality, both of which are a complete waste of time arguing (and suing) over.

If I can share two pieces of advice for researchers, writers and anyone who has an idea (I’m looking at you UW), it would be this.

Stop taking things personally and use your frustration to go make something better.

My bet is by the time the courts handle this case, someone somewhere will have invented a better version of the computer technology.