UK Rethinking Patent Process
from the good-or-bad dept
While the US is looking at various patent reforms that seem likely to make the system much worse, over in the UK they seem to have a slightly better understanding of the issue -- admitting that they're worried that too many "trivial" or "obvious" patents are being granted. The patent office is asking for comments as they try to think about reform. Of course, the existing patent infrastructure (lots of patent lawyers, basically) are probably likely to try to push in the other direction.
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Here's an idea...
"MegaCorp product made possible thanks to contributions by LittleGuy."
That way we encourage innovation while not forcing the little guys that actually innovated into oblivion. I'm sure a patent holder could make money the rest of his life just for getting credit for inventing something really popular. Even if he isn't able to lead the market.
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Re: Here's an idea...
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No Subject Given
As a matter of fact, MegaCorp owes its existance to all the little guys that get nothing except acknowledgement for their ideas while we rake in millions...$$$
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Brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obviously none.
Patent is a limited-time property right and changing it to something else will undermine the whole legal framework in US (employment contracts,
VC investing, university research commercialization...)
Next time you write about something, please, think about it first...
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Why Patents are a Minefield
"The very obscure language makes "published" patents extremely difficult to search and review, even by patent professionals." - Wikipedia debate
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