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When Good Patents Go Bad

Posted by michael on from the there-are-good-patents? dept.

will writes "The Washington Post has a good review of patents in the information age. The insanity of the US patent system has been chronicled on this site numerous times in the past (for example, an FTC report on patent policy, some patents for obvious applications such as Microsoft patenting local weather, and Amazon patenting inside book searching). The Washington Post article does a good job of overviewing IP issues today, why the current US patent systems fails in the information age, and gives an example of patent extortion. Excuse me while I patent my DNA."

8 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Patent by penguinoid · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I claim a patent on this headline!

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  2. Trolls by penguinoid · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Silly patents are just trolls who don't know about Slashdot.

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    Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  3. Good job by Theatetus · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Congrats on the "Interesting" mod you got.

    Honestly, though, that patent is a damn clever idea.

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    All's true that is mistrusted
  4. In Soviet Russia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    your DNA is patented, and IP means that intellectuals from the Party own you!

  5. IMPORTANT INFO FOR SLASHDOT READERS by 110010001000 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Check out the latest press release from VALinux (slashdots parent corporation). VALinux doesn't care about us, the professional programmer. They are producing tools that are geared to take more of our jobs overseas. It is tools like this and open source which are DESTROYING the profession. What does Slashdot have to say for itself?

    1. Re:IMPORTANT INFO FOR SLASHDOT READERS by 110010001000 · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Mod me down if you wish, but I will be heard. This is important information for Slashdot readers - and the topic has been REJECTED for consideration by the slashdot staff.

      What is the morality in this? How can VALinux pretend to be pro-programmer geek and produce software that has the SOLE PURPOSE of increasing the viability of offshore development???

  6. When Good Patents Go Bad by BackwardEngineer · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    ... This January on FOX!

  7. Re:The lawyers will win. by Hognoxious · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Of course if we group all the lawyers in Bangalore, it will be a bit easier to nuke them all ;-)
    Hence the name Bang Galore?
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