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Patent Office Shows Record Backlog

Posted by michael on from the free-money-get-your-free-money-here dept.

acroyear writes "WTOP, 1500am, a news radio station in the DC area, is reporting that the Patent Office Is Seeing Record Backlog, with 2 years for a patent now, and potentially 4 years to wait by decade's end, and the PTO is considering a 15% increase in filing fees. Personally, I think if they had set a trend of actually rejecting patents that don't belong, they'd have sent enough of a message to keep application numbers to a reasonable level; right now, everybody files because just about everything can get one."

4 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. DAMMIT *I* INVENTED THE RECORD BACKLOG!!! by corebreech · · Score: 5, Funny

    Those bastards!

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    Is this truly the only Earth I can live on?
  2. What kind of ads to they use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Got fired from your rebate handling job because you were too slow processing applications? Fear no more! Get a job at the patent office!

  3. Patent #45560986 by A+Guy+From+Ottawa · · Score: 4, Funny

    For their sake I hope they don't let it get to the 4year mark...

    Patent #45560986 Granted to Guy F. Ottawa on April 1, 1999.

    Description:
    The process of providing a service to individuals (or businesses) who's end result is not conveyed for 4 years (1460 Days).

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    using System.Awesome;

  4. I have the answer by AssFace · · Score: 2, Funny

    I filed an elegant and cost saving answer to the solution - but I want to make sure it is patented... they said it should get through in only 3 years.
    I feel like I'm helping.

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    There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.