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Scientific American On Bad Patents

Posted by timothy on from the reading-slashdot-is-patented dept.

dltallan writes: "Scientific American has a short article in which Gregory Aharonian presents his picks for the four worst patents granted. I like the patent for training with manuals (1998)." The Bustpatents site is worth spending some eye-rubbing time on.

3 of 227 comments (clear)

  1. already done. by digitalunity · · Score: 4, Funny

    The USPTO has just granted my first patent, #6,356,233. Clearly stated, I claim that respiration of 21.4 small breaths per minute is the ideal respiration of a human and I claim that this specific breathing rate is a design of my own creation. Anyone currently breathing at this rate must license this FreelyBreathing® Respiration rate from me. Don't worry, my AUP and End User License are very flexible!

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    You can't legislate goodness. Let each to his own destiny, by will of his freely made choices.
    1. Re:already done. by Molina+the+Bofh · · Score: 4, Funny
      I have #6,450,530, that states:

      United States Patent 6,450,530
      Molina the BOFH , et al.

      Method for moderating messages at Slashdot
      Abstract
      A computer complete with keyboard, internet access, a mouse, a CRT monitor for causing the computer information to be displayed, registration to Slashdot, a browser.

      The user needs the computer to access, via the browser, Slashdot's web site. He then identifies himself, using his login and password, thus being granted moderator access. Then, using the monitor, locates any article, clicks on the "read more" link, wich shows more data, that doesn't need to be read. Then he can choose 5 absolutely random messages, and assign absolutely random scores to it. It's advisable not to read the actual content of the messages, in order not get biased by its content. It's advisable to have a random generator (a.k.a. dice) to be more impartial when choosing among funny, informative, insightful, overrated, underrated, offtopic, etc. Then click on the "moderate" button, using the mouse.

      Attention moderators: I can charge from you. However I will not charge a cent from you if you moderate my message up. :)
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      Roses are #FF0000, Violets are #0000FF, find / -name '*base*' |xargs chown -R us && mv zig greatjustice
  2. A mother singing to help her children sleep by Aceticon · · Score: 4, Funny

    A method to induce sleep in young humans through the use of pressure waves generated by the female progenitor's vocal chords.