NY Times Comes Out Against The Broken Patent System

from the good-to-see dept

Tue, Oct 31st 2006 12:04pm — Mike Masnick

Following the recent NY Times article on how tax strategies are getting patented, the paper has come out with an opinion piece about how our patent system is broken and rewarding exactly the opposite behavior that it was intended to encourage: "Patents are supposed to encourage innovation, rewarding the individual for the greater good of society. But excessive or overly broad patents can slow business activity to the pace of cold molasses." This isn't anything new to plenty of folks, of course. However, it is good to see a publication like the NY Times make the point as well.

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8 Comments

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Scarper, 31 Oct 2006 @ 1:11pm

The NYT points out that if you can patent tax strategies you could also patent a legal defense strategy. Clearly allowing patents on the way citizens can defend themselves against over-taxation or criminal allegations is ridiculous. Business method patents must be curtailed.
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agent888, 31 Oct 2006 @ 1:25pm

patenting legal defenses
note to self: patent the chewbacca defense strategy
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new patent, 31 Oct 2006 @ 1:28pm

new patent
Is there a patent on the patent process? If not, it's mine!

seriously.. glad to see mainstream news publications taking notice.
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trex, 31 Oct 2006 @ 1:58pm

"Is there a patent on the patent process? If not, it's mine! "

Refer to my recent patent application "A Methodological Process By Which Limited Monopolies for the Implementation of Invented Processes May Be Examined, Adjudicated, Granted and Protected."
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Oct 2006 @ 2:17pm

All the patent does, is allow the person (or usually corporation) holding it to reap the rewards for as long as its valid. That'd be fine and good and all if the person responsible for the invention got all the rewards. I say once a patent gets sold and becomes a piece of property for the public, what ever it concerns also then becomes the property of the entire public.
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misanthropic humanist, 31 Oct 2006 @ 3:49pm

IP, progress, choose one.
Patents are an unconscionable idea in a modern civilised society. I am in good company holding this belief along with Mr Einstein and Mr Jefferson, but it's proving hard to enlighten ordinary folk who have been so utterly brainwashed by the corporations.

Anybody of moderate intelligence who makes a dispassionate and honest analysis of intellectual property will arrive at the conclusion that it impedes progress.

Besides, there are no inventions, only discoveries. Nobody who believes in God or creationism can consistently assert the case for intellectual property. But mere logical impossibility has never stood in the way of these greedy retards before.

So, as a freethinking athiest, or a religious conservative you must reject intellectual property as a concept. It is unique in being anti-capitalist, anti-socialist and spanning all creeds and religions as an abhorent notion.

The only supporters of the idea are a disproportionately vocal minority who have a vested interest in keeping intellectual property, and those who do not understand it.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Oct 2006 @ 7:35pm

Well said misanthropic humanist!
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Nov 2006 @ 4:09am

Re: chewbacca defense strategy
Patenting the chewbacca defense strategy DOES NOT MAKE SENCE!

Why would a wookie living on Endor have anything patentable about it.

Therfore the chewbacca defense strategy is non-obvious.

Therfore the chewbacca defense strategy is Patentable.

QED
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