EFF Runs Patent-Busting Challenge

markclong writes "Every year numerous illegitimate patent applications make their way through the United States patent examination process without adequate review. The problem is particularly acute in the software and Internet fields where the history of prior inventions (often called "prior art") is widely distributed and poorly documented. As a result, we have seen patents asserted on such simple technologies as One-click online shopping (U.S. Patent No. 5,960,411.), Online shopping carts (U.S. Patent No. 5,715,314.), The hyperlink (U.S. Patent No. 4,873,662.). The EFF is hosting a patent busting project to fight the most egregious abuses of the patent system."

Comments

Re:Might this not rather support the patent system

[Anonymous Coward]

US patent system does not want to spend the time/money

The problem is that Congress won't give the USPTO the money it requires to do its job. This is on its way to changing with the new fee bill H.R. 1561, but it may take some time. It is still largely a step in the right direction.

Re:So what's new?

[stinkfoot]

Is this article a duplicate of an article from nearly two months ago? Or is there some specific news about this patent-busting project? The blurb didn't seem to help.

the public call-for-submissions ("contest") part of the project was launched yesterday. the post wasn't very clear about that...

contest:
http://www.eff.org/patent/contest/

press release:
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2004_06.php#00160 0