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  Carl E. Person, 15 Mar 2004 @ 7:56pm

  
  

  Patent Law "Reform" - Inc. Magazine Article

  As an inventor and small businessperson, I want to take this opportunity to express where reform is truly needed. The fees involved in obtaining and maintaining patents are so oppressive that only the rich can maintain their patents and the inventions (and patents) of less wealthy inventors are either not obtained or are given up before the end of the full patent term. Fees paid to the patent office by individuals for patents to be owned by them should be reduced to a nominal amount, to enable the technology to be marketed after obtaining patent protection. Presently, fees are so confiscatory that the small inventor has no money left to develop and market his/her invention. High patent fees turn patent protection into a playground exclusively for major corporations and wealthy individuals.
  Carl E. Person

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  Chip Venters, 16 Mar 2004 @ 9:13am

  
  

  Patent reform

  Mike, I find your ongoing commentary about the patent system to be somewhat inconsistent with your views on other issues. For example, you seem to side with the P2P people from the standpoint that their networks are great new technology that happens to have some nefarious uses, and banning P2P to stop illegal file trading is sort of like banning cars because someone might rob a bank, or be killed in one. You are saying that the patent system is bad, and should be radically changed, since it is hindering innovation. Yes, there have been some controversial patents issued through the years, just as some illegal mp3s have been traded in P2P, but its no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Without the patent system there would be no way to protect intellectual property, and thus no reason to create it. Wouldn't you be upset if a company of 100 times your size and resources started techdirt.biz, threw a gazillion dollars at it, and claimed you are a hack?

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    Mike (profile), 16 Mar 2004 @ 9:59am

    
    

    Re: Patent reform

    Who said I was throwing the baby out with the bathwater?
    
    My position is consistent in that I believe whatever promotes innovation should be encouraged. In the case of the patent system, I believe it's currently hindering innovation. Reforming it could encourage innovation.
    
    With P2P, I believe it's helping to lead to new innovations.
    
    Both are about encouraging innovation.
    
    Where's the inconsistency?

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      Chip Venters, 17 Mar 2004 @ 7:07am

      
      

      Re: Patent reform

      Encouraging innovation, and what it takes to do that, is the issue. The US is still the most innovative country on the planet, and many would argue, among other reasons, that a strong intellectual property protection system is key. I know our small company is in business ONLY because our patents give us some protection against the big guys. We know that without them, our products would be stolen or copied...no questions asked. So we are innovating our butts off as a result. Otherwise, I'd probably be in a cubicle in the Valley, wondering about pink slips.
      
      Love your site...keep up the good work.
      
      

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  gray powell, 16 Mar 2004 @ 9:41am

  
  

  bunch of assclowns

  Have they not been paying attention lately? I'm in college and have nothing to do with that whole industry and even I know it is completely out of whack. I haven't heard much of what the government proposed, but by what was said in the summary, I see nothing but good coming from it.

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