Bad Ideas: Globalizing The Patent System
from the this-won't-end-well dept
It's pretty clear that Microsoft's patent boss, Horacio Gutierrez, and I don't agree on much, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I find nothing to like in Gutierrez's new call for "global patents." I can understand where the complaint comes from. It surely is a pain to have to apply for a patent in many different countries around the world, and to deal with different local systems and responses. And, yes, there is a big backlog at the patent office, which could be alleviated if many patent offices weren't all reviewing the same patents. But, having different patent systems actually serves an important function in better understanding the levers of innovation: which is that we get to compare different approaches and that different countries can try out different ideas to see what works and what doesn't. Unfortunately, we've already lost some of that uniqueness around the world due to the TRIPS agreement, which harmonized many patent systems on certain points, and took away some of the unique features of patent systems.We've already seen that in "harmonizing" copyrights thanks to the Berne Convention that it's been made much more difficult for countries to correct mistakes (or even admit mistakes) with overly aggressive copyright laws. In fact, it's created a situation where the only direction copyright law seems to go is towards stronger protection -- almost always under claims of a need to "live up to international treaties." If we created a single global patent system, you'd have that problem on steroids. Rather than being able to experiment and cut back on the excesses and problems of the patent system, the entire world would be stuck with a single system, and any changes to the regulations would be driven by those who benefit most from being able to abuse such monopoly rights.
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Filed Under: globalized, horacio gutierrez, patents
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EPO
National Patent offices tend to have some democratic accountability. The EPO has less - although the European Parliament has provided some obstacles. A world Patent office would be a free for all for the ultra-IP lobby with no democratic institution to rein it in
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here's an easy way to put it
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Re:
Careful what you ask for.
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Basically, with a global system it would make it more favorable for an international company to enforce patents than a local company.
Therefore, a large company could enforce their patents on a small company in China more easily! Thus, Chinese government would give up the ability to "control" the rulings in favor of their companies versus foreign companies.
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I'm sure the companies pushing this are thinking along the same lines, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a Chinese court rule in favor of a Chinese company. I'm sure even China has an East Texas.
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Its a great idea ....
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Amazing
"Gutierrez's new call for "global patents.""
Sure. A call for global patents by the patent guru at a American-based multinational corporation, one whose corporate leadership is a member of some sketchy secretive organizations. Oh, and I'm just sure that we'll be bringing all the nations of the world together with a representatively equal say in the drafting of the language of this global legislation.
"Hey, Bangladesh, what do you think we need to include in the Global Patent Act of 2009?"
"Uh, can we include something along the lines of all female patents must wear head covers, please?"
What a joke.
Oh, and another question: who inforces this? Because this global police force (as if that wasn't scary enough) had damn well better not be dominated by American, or even Western interests. It has to be truly equal and global, or this won't work. That means no United Nations, no Interpol. So what we're left with is setting up a brand new policing agency that does not answer to any central authority, but rather a conglomerate of nations that are also being policed for IP law by this agency.
How far is that from an Orson Scott Card type of Hegemon?
Or, you know, we could all take a deep breath and let other sovereign nations be, oh I don't know, SOVEREIGN.
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Word...
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So Microsoft's patent boss, Horacio Gutierrez, is calling for global patents. More examples of unelected officials trying to impose their will on the masses. Who elected Horacio Gutierrez and put him in charge that he should try to impose his will on the masses? I'm sick and tired of unelected officials trying to impose their personal will on the masses.
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You mean like every presidential cabinet in the history of America?
There is little to no difference between corporate leadership and cabinet posts in this country, since people seem to move easily between the two positions as time goes on, most of them members of globalists groups.
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1. The democratically elected court constructed of 9 justices called the Supreme Legislation Review Court: It's sole purpose would be to investigate laws passed to retroactively determine that they are not unconstitutional, were not created with undue favor to business/industry, and that all sponsors of the bills they are based on can pass a test on the intricacies of the law (the test would be 10 questions long for every 200 words in the bill). If any of the tree criteria are not met/passed, the law is tossed and we go back to the drawing board for them to try again.
2. An additional constitutional amendment stating that if an elected official or official directly appointed by an official can be proven to have 3 times demonstrably lied to Congress, their constituents, and/or a member of he media within a year, they are immediately disbanned from their position and are not allowed in government for 5 years.
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i got an idea
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Re: i got an idea
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Oh Yeah....
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GOD, I agree with Mike :)
America has the best patent system in the world. All we need to do is replace upper USPTO management with people who are competent and who do not owe their souls to big business and America can start spawning new invention based businesses which are able to pay decent wages.
Ronald J. Riley,
I am speaking only on my own behalf.
Affiliations:
President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR act PIAUSA.org
Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
President - Alliance for American Innovation
Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
Washington, DC
Direct (810) 597-0194 / (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.
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Re: GOD, I agree with Mike :)
By what you wrote you are against big coproration patents but for small time inventors. By what you write by writing "They would no longer need to worry about Texas courts slapping their sticky fingered paddies when they tried to abuse the process of law" you suggest you are for patenting ideas instead of invention.
Again, baby Jezus cries when he reads your post.
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Re: Re: GOD, I agree with Mike :)
Plus he attempted to read your ridiculous signature and promptly pooped his cloth diaper, forcing the Virgin Mary to soil her hands cleaning up what was essentially despair poop.
Question: how far gone is our society when we feel we must announce to people that we're speaking only for ourselves and not either other real people or the else the persistent voices in our heads?
"By what you write by writing"
Jeebus is whimpering again, my friend....
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Great idea from Horacio! Go Global!
Obviously it needs to respect the enforcement in each given country. It must also provide a three tier fee structure for Large Entities (like Microsoft), Small Entities (like Redhat or other less then 500 person firms) and Individual (9 or fewer persons and less then 1million 2009 baseline valued euros/annum).
No maintenance fees for Individual entities until the issued patent is licensed by a large or small entity in which case all such fees are due and payable. This means the maintenance fees are based on the licensee's status (large or small entity).
In the event that pre-issue or post issue challenges are supported by the World Patent Office (WPO) all challengers are required to provide equal representation to any Individual Entity challenged. That is if MS decided to challenge Individual entity Giggle it would be required to pay for a legal team for Giggle equal to the legal team it fielded.
The fees for Individual entities will be less then that in any present PCT country today and not more then 1000 euros in total to issuance regardless of office actions, appeals etc.
The WPO will include the major market countries of the world including USA, European Union, India, China, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Egypt.
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We should all...
What messed up saliva induced, hippie parents name their kid Horacio?
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Re: We should all...
Besides, if imaginary property (IP) was structured like Real Property, and companies had to file in each of the 50 states, people like horacio could become like little gods in their own corner office and substantiate hiring hundreds of lawyers in each state, all reporting to him. isn't that what all lawyers desire?
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>>was structured like Real Property,
>>and companies had to file claims in each
>>of the 50 states, people like horacio
>>could become like little gods in their
>>own corner office and substantiate hiring
>>hundreds of lawyers in each state
Wow! You know, most corporate lawyers I've met would love to be the Rat King. I don't understand why he's pushing back on such a brilliant idea!
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We should all...
What messed up Salvia-induced, hippie parents name their kid Horacio?
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let's not.
and say we didn't.
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We need another war on something
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This new "GPS" (Globalizing the Patent System) will take us nowhere...
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Careful what you wish for
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Re: Careful what you wish for
Yep, Microsoft and other members of the Coalition for Patent Fairness & Piracy would need to buy a Chinese personal lube factory.
Just like their patents, they would have quantity rather than quality.
Ronald J. Riley,
I am speaking only on my own behalf.
Affiliations:
President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR act PIAUSA.org
Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org
Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org
President - Alliance for American Innovation
Caretaker of Intellectual Property Creators on behalf of deceased founder Paul Heckel
Washington, DC
Direct (810) 597-0194 / (202) 318-1595 - 9 am to 8 pm EST.
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Its a great plan, lets have this happen.
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Its a great plan, lets have this happen.
As each "idea" is patented, the people working with open systems will just ignore the patents. The John Robb (Global Gurellas) model of small fabs turning out parts will become the rule of the day - mass produced whatever won't be able to be made due to lawsuits and legal expenses in the backwaters of the world.
And lawsuits over the "patents" will just draw attention to the item being sued over, thus creating demand for the software and CAD cutter paths.
Give the giants what they want. Give them MORE than they could possibly hope for. Let them choke on their greed.
(and the rest of you? You need to walk away from the bastards. Stop consuming their products.)
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