WTF patents

[Jim Thompson]

Jim Thompson wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
[snip]

and thats about it. I had visions of turning up in court with, say, 50
textbooks ranging from the 1950s to present, all of which describe the
boost converter in detail, and uttering the single phrase "QED"

I suspect it wouldnt be quite that simple.

Cheers
Terry

Actually it is. Textbooks predating the patent application are
instant patent death. Used that several times now to end litigation
on the spot.

glad to hear it. its one of the reasons I have so many textbooks.
Apparently I get a free lobotomy when I hit the thousand mark, which is
rapidly approaching. On the bright side, this will allow me to enjoy TV
- who knows, I might even think Ray Romano is funny (shouldnt the show
be called "everybody loves to stab Raymond in the head with a fork"?)

I can't stand that show. My idea of comedy is "Desperate Housewives"
or "Boston Legal" ;-)

I have run into the opposite problem, repeatedly - VCs demanding to
patent everything.


dont you have to give them the relevant schematics?


about that book you plan on writing....

Cheers
Terry

After today I think I've decided I'd be dead before I completed
writing up everything I've designed ;-)

I did find the LiIon charger I mentioned some time ago when that was a
topic here... 15 pages of schematics ;-)

...Jim Thompson

 

[Pooh Bear]

USPTO will patent just about anything presented to them.

Why though ?

Graham

 

[Jim Thompson]

Why though ?

Graham

Lack of manpower, lack of brains in the remaining bureaucracy :-(

...Jim Thompson

 

[Richard the Dreaded Libertarian]

After today I think I've decided I'd be dead before I completed
writing up everything I've designed ;-)

Oh, please hurry!

;-P
Rich

 

[Keith]

Lack of manpower, lack of brains in the remaining bureaucracy :-(

....and the number one answer is... The USPTO is not a cost center, it is
a *profit* center for the US government. The USPS should be so
successfull.

 

[Walter Harley]

Why though ?

I guess because there is no disincentive. They are paid whenever a patent
is filed, and they are not penalized when a patent is thrown out. If you
could sue for wrongful grant of patent, like you can sue for wrongful
arrest...

I could sum up my whole gripe: "the 'nonobvious' criterion should be
enforced much more strictly."

 

[Ken Smith]

After today I think I've decided I'd be dead before I completed
writing up everything I've designed ;-)

Publish it in volumes. That way when you drop over quill in hand, some of
it will already be out there.

BTW: Please make that a lot of volumes.

 

[Ken Smith]

...and the number one answer is... The USPTO is not a cost center, it is
a *profit* center for the US government. The USPS should be so
successfull.

Make the stamp for junk mail $50 :>

 

[Mark Zenier]

....and the number one answer is... The USPTO is not a cost center, it is
a *profit* center for the US government. The USPS should be so
successfull.

Hey, they're "creating wealth". It's the Republican way of doing business.

So what if it's bogus. IP is IP. And if a sleazy lawyer can use it
as a power dildo to ream out the unprotected, that's capitalism, 21st
century style. Welcome to the postindustrial Information Economy.

Mark Zenier [email protected]
Googleproofaddress(account:mzenier provider:eskimo domain:com)

 

[Joseph2k]

On Thu, 19 Jan 2006 10:25:03 -0800, "Walter Harley"
If a patent is broad enough or obvious enough that people
keep inadvertently running into it while inventing on their own, then to
me that patent is doing more harm than good: society didn't benefit from
it being "disclosed."


[snip]

"obvious" is a standard test for killing a patent.

...Jim Thompson

alas, although we all know that it would appear the USPTO (and all the
others I've ever used) dont.
[snip]
Cheers
Terry

The "obvious" argument is used in the challenge. USPTO will patent
just about anything presented to them.

...Jim Thompson

Too right. The general technical incompetence of patent examiners is really
deplorable. That's what we get for elevating form over function
[bureaurocracy].

 

[Joseph2k]

Make the stamp for junk mail $50 :>

Considering the amount of joint damage it contributes to letter carriers as
compared to first class mail, that price may be too low.