Ric Richardson builds technology that solves billion-dollar problems.

Inventor of Software Activation — the anti-piracy tech protecting 2+ billion computers globally. Won $530M AUD jury verdict against Microsoft. Settled. Built and sold multiple companies. Now inventing sovereign tech for Australia: child safety, ransomware defense, and decentralized identity.

Current focus: Making the internet safe for kids without destroying privacy.

What Ric Does

Invent → Patent → License or Exit. Repeat.

Ric doesn't run companies long-term. He identifies critical problems, invents solutions, protects the IP, validates with pilots, then licenses or sells to operators who scale globally.

Track record: Software Activation (used by Microsoft, Adobe, Autodesk), Haventec (passwordless authentication), Wallet Nation (chargeback capability for crypto), Deadbolt (ransomware detection and action), PersonaOS (customised avatars and personas to humanise AI).

IP portfolio: 60+ families of patents filed internationally. Multiple enforced successfully.

Current Projects

SafeGen — Under-16 age verification that doesn't harvest data. Pilot launching Q4 2025. Target: regulatory endorsement + Big Tech acquisition within 180 days.

Tokenisation Engine — Carbon credit + IP licensing infrastructure. Patent Pending. Enables fractional ownership and transparent trading of environmental assets. Can be adapted for any information assets or rights.

Deadbolt — Ransomware kill switch. Stops attacks before encryption starts. Sovereign Australian cyber defense tech.

PersonaOS — Sits in front of LLMs to help bridge the robot/ human barrier making AI friendly approachable and even entertaining..

→ See full project details

By The Numbers

• $530M AUD — Jury verdict vs. Microsoft (2009, settled 2012)
• 2.5+ billion — Computers worldwide using Software Activation
• 60+ — Families of International patents filed. Up to 22 patents per family
• 6 — Companies founded or co-founded
• Featured — Australian Story (2 episodes), Wall Street Journal, SMH, ABC

→ Full track record

Work With Ric

Ric is an inventor, not a CEO or investor.

He partners with operators who can scale. He helps other inventors (Friday mornings only). He solves technical problems that others can't.

What Ric does:

✓ Invent solutions to national-scale problems

✓ Patent and protect breakthrough IP

✓ Co-found with strong operators

✓ License or exit when valuation > 20× cost

What Ric doesn't do:

✗ Run day-to-day operations

✗ Angel investing or VC

✗ Consulting without equity alignment

Contact: Email Chris Bird at chris@r2labs.com

→ Full partnership details

→ How to contact about Uniloc patent acquisitions

Media

Australian Story — 2 episodes chronicling the Microsoft battle and settlement

• Episode 1: The Big Deal
• Episode 2: The Done Deal

Press: Wall Street Journal, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, Innovation Aus, AFR

→ Full media archive

Recognition

• DSAC Data Standards Advisory Council for Federal Treasury Dept - Appointed 2025
• NSW Government Digital Identity Advisory Council — Appointed 2021
• Wikipedia Entry — Software Activation
• Multiple Patent Enforcement Wins — Against Fortune 500 companies

Current location: Sydney, Australia

Work with Australia's most battle-tested inventor. Email chris@r2labs.com

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