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Comment by CalChris | Hacker News Reader

I know! I know! Pick me! Cuz like litigation is hella expensive and that's so mega dumb if you're just like giving the software away and stuff.

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Actually, litigation is only "hella expensive" in USA. In other countries, litigation also costs money, time, and nerves, but not that expensive.

And in general, startups spend way less resources on legal team. People just don't sue each other that often as in US, although I don't know the reasons, maybe people break the law also way less, don't know.

I think in the us, there is no penalty for suing other than your court costs, so there is more of it.

I believe other countries require the plaintiff to cover legal expenses of all parties if they lose, versus in the us, people strategically sue other entities specifically to inflict financial harm or ruin (see Donald Trump for an egregious example of this).

Consequently many fewer frivolous or financially motivated revenge lawsuits.

Wait, in the US you don't have to pay the costs incurred on the other party if you lose your case?

Only in extreme situations, like when it was very clear that your case had no merit, or when explicitly called for by statute, which is a small number of situations (like SLAPP suits).

Pretty much what danielweber said. If you are curious to learn more about the "American Rule" and related exceptions you can read more about it here http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/attorney-fees-does-lo...

I would dispute that expensive litigation is a US only phenomenon. I have had much higher legal fees in Brazil than the US.

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