Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

US Patent Office To Hire 500 New Examiners

Posted by Hemos on from the get-them-in-there dept.

ddillman writes to us with a story from EEtimes that is reporting that the US Government, specifically the PTO, is hiring up to 500 electrical engineers to help assess the validity of new patent claims on technical gadgets. Good - and with the downturn in the high tech industry you can get them cheap.

4 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. That's all fine and good, but... by wonder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    call me a cynic if you will, but hiring more people to do a job doesn't necessarily mean they'll do it well. Sure, they're engineers with experience and we all might assume that they'll have a bit more insight into what should and shouldn't be legitimate claims. However, they're still going to be under someone who's giving out the directions on how things are supposed to be done, and that someone is probably well entrenched in the thinking that's become the object of many a laugh on these message boards. Strange how independent thought tends to wither and dry up after enough time has passed in almost any job. Here's hoping..

  2. Gadgets not software by M_Talon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you read the article, you'll see this only applies to telecommunications and electronic devices. No mention made about software or Internet technology. So no worries, folks, I'm sure we'll still have plenty of silly "one-click" patents to talk about here on /.

    --
    Electronic Frontier Foundation for online civil rights information
  3. They need to change the revenue model. by IGnatius+T+Foobar · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The real problem with the PTO is that they make money when a patent is awarded. Therefore they are motivated to award as many patents as possible. This needs to change before the "patent everything" mindset will stop getting its way every time.

    --
    Tired of FB/Google censorship? Visit UNCENSORED!
    1. Re:They need to change the revenue model. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Uh what are you talking about? I work at the PTO and really don't understand your comment. Our money comes from applications and renewals, not from when a patent is approved.

      If there is a problem at the PTO it is too few examiners and a production quota system that values speed over quality.