Slashdot Mirror
Chip Firm Hit By 45-Year-Old Patent
JPMH writes "The Register is reporting that a Taiwanese chip foundry is being sued over two chemistry patents, one over 45 years old. The patents at issue were filed in 1957 and 1964, but are still in force because they were not granted until 1987 and 1992 respectively. The first patent, 4,702,808, details an apparatus and method for initiating chemical reactions by focusing "radiant energy, such as a laser" onto streams of particles. The second patent, 5,131,941 also details an apparatus and method for initiating chemical reactions, but this time radiation is used to provide the energy kick needed to get the compounds to interact."
We're talking about patents that were put in when? Since before the space race?
How can it be make good business sense to have these patents still applicable now? Why the hell were they put in limbo for so damn long?
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg
Some people claimed that it would be advantageous to prohibit a person filing a patent, if they never would or could implement the invention of their own accord.
That would be stupid. We have many legitimate companies that do R&D (and have no interest in manufacturing) for hire and then license out the patent rights. This would put them out of business. Not to speak of what that would do to universities etc. that want to exercise patent rights.