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How to Become a Patent Millionaire

Posted by michael on from the perpetual-motion-device dept.

An anonymous reader writes "SF Gate has an article about people who patent ideas for things they have no intentions of building, hoping to license technology or block competitors from doing something similar. As if the patent system weren't screwed up enough already."

12 of 500 comments (clear)

  1. Quick! by st0rmshad0w · · Score: 5, Funny

    Somebody patent that!

    1. Re:Quick! by mike_mgo · · Score: 5, Funny
      I'd be so wealthy Bill Gates would be serving me coffee in French maid outfit by now.

      I don't think I ever want to be that rich.

  2. This is why by fudgefactor7 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We need a department that has the power to review and revoke a patent. If you're not going to produce what you patent, or if your patent is overly broad (or just plain stupid) it should be revoked.

    1. Re:This is why by Zathrus · · Score: 5, Insightful

      We do. It's called the US Patent and Trademark Office.

      Problem is, it doesn't work as well as it should.

    2. Re:This is why by TopShelf · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Of course, there are legitimate cases for filing a patent without means to produce the product. The inventor may not have the resources, and must have the patent in hand to round up financial backing. Where do you draw the line as to what is being developed and what is not?

      --
      Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
    3. Re:This is why by jcr · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Where do you draw the line as to what is being developed and what is not?

      "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, is the plaintiff a bona fide inventor, or just some jerk trying to get in the way of progress?"

      We've got a system for deciding issues of fact. I say we use it, and give the jury the authority to bitch-slap somebody like Fernandez.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    4. Re:This is why by Moofie · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The Wright Brothers tried to patent the notion of powered flight.

      When Glenn Curtiss decided to use hinged ailerons instead of wing warping to provide roll control on his aircraft, the Wright Brothers tried to sue him for patent infringement.

      So, you've unintentionally demonstrated how harmful patents can be to improving the state of the art. It is not practical to build large airplanes with wing warping (at least, not with current materials) but ailerons work just great. Had it not been for the US Government nationalizing the Wrights' patents, the state of the art would have been set back by decades.

      How can you patent something that happens in nature all the time?

      --
      Why yes, I AM a rocket scientist!
  3. In other news... by carl67lp · · Score: 5, Funny

    Amazon and Microsoft announced joint patents of a new concept: "A grant made by a government that confers upon the creator of an invention the sole right to make, use, and sell that invention for a set period of time."

    They're expected to make billions off the royalties.

  4. What makes this difference from... by vasqzr · · Score: 5, Interesting


    SF Gate has an article about people who patent ideas for things they have no intentions of building, hoping to license technology or block competitors from doing something similar

    How about people who buy land they have no intention of building on, hoping to sell it to others while blocking other people from building on this land?

  5. Legal consistency by El · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Let's see now... if I register a domain name with the intent of selling it to someone else instead of using it myself, I'm "cybersquating" and ICANN will forcibly take the domain name aways from me. However, if I register an idea with the intent of selling to someone else instead of using it myself, the US Patent Office will assist me in extorting money out of anyone who wishes to sell a product based on a simular idea? I find this curiously inconsistent.

    --

    "Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney

  6. Re:give the patent away by JUSTONEMORELATTE · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Otis Elevator Company is the other classic story -- Mr Otis invented the safty brake (which automatically catches an elevator if the cable breaks) and patented the idea. He then gave free license to use the invention to any and all competitors, since it would save lives.

    --

  7. Part of the problem.. by Kwil · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ..as I understand it, is that the PTO gets more money if it actually grants the patent then if it refuses it.

    Considering that it gets squat for federal money these days, you can see how this situation leads to the patenting of crap-on-a-stick and so forth.

    So to fix this, do it the other way around. Charge slightly more should the patent examiner determine the invention is "obvious" and a lot more should it be determined that there is prior art.

    I'd even be willing to give the examiners a direct incentive should they find prior art. (But set up an appeals process if you do that) This would discourage companies and individuals from patenting utter crap, and strongly encourage patent applicants to do a good search of the prior art, rather then (as now) choosing to avoid looking (because if you don't see it, you can say you didn't know)

    --

    That Jesus Christ guy is getting some terrible lag... it took him 3 days to respawn! -NJ CoolBreeze