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Blue LED Inventor Loses Patent Fight

Posted by Hemos on from the not-just-the-us-patent-system dept.

Swamp writes "Just a little heads-up for you engineers. The Mainichi Daily News is running this story saying 'A Nobel Prize candidate who invented a blue light-emitting diode (LED) used for display panels has no patent rights over the product as he conceded it to his former employer, a court ruled Thursday.' 'Japan's Patent Law provides that researchers who invent products as part of their company jobs have the patent for them, but adds that their employers can claim the patent after paying "deserving bonuses" to the inventors.' I guess not even being a Nobel Prize [contender] gives you credit anymore." His 20,000 yen bonus is about US$162 now.

4 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. What about my rights? by doc_traig · · Score: 3, Funny

    I invented the Scroll Lock key. Maybe it's time I start looking for those royalties. And no, it doesn't matter that you don't use it!

    - DDT

    --
    So long, michael. Don't let the door hit you...
  2. The story in a nutshell by ergo98 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nichia...owns the patent because Nakamura had signed a certificate handing the ownership of the patent to the company....[he] countered by saying that the certificate is invalid because he didn't know scientists working for a company could legally claim patents for their products when he signed the certificate...apan's Patent Law provides that researchers who invent products as part of their company jobs have the patent for them, but adds that their employers can claim the patent after paying "deserving bonuses" to the inventors.

    Sort of like the countless articles about boohoo musical acts that decide after taking the signing bonuses and all the perks that they don't like the RIAA, this is a case of "guy signs away everything and now wants an undo button".

  3. Getting Screwed by your Employer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    There used to be a time when good advice was "don't bend over" in prison. Now I guess the same thing can be said about work.

  4. Re:We need to bring back Guilds.. by arkanes · · Score: 3, Funny

    Agree. Don't. Watch revenge of the nerds III instead. Same idea, same result, much more entertaining. And better written. Not to mention without the air of pompous superiority.