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EFF Runs Patent-Busting Challenge

Posted by michael on from the one-click dept.

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."

9 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Next challenge - the slashdot dupe. by Amiga+Lover · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's right, slashdot readers are mounting a "Dupe Busting Challenge".

    However it's still being ignored.

  2. An idea... by centralizati0n · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How about a Wiki-type thing that lists some previous art for patents that a watchdog group lists out? Get some serious evidence and archive it in one place so the masses can check and see what patents they don't really have to pay attention to.

    1. Re:An idea... by pjay_dml · · Score: 5, Interesting

      i like your idea. maybe you should submit it to the people from eef.
      why not even go further and create a whole online community, that deals with patents and intellectual property, from a freedom and civil rights perspective.
      this could be a site, with a wiki, as you mentioned, forums for people to discuss current issues, but also to organize teamwork to bust patents, search for previous art, etc.... the site could be financed by offering support to people who have run into trouble with patents.
      also on offer would be an extensive resource collection, to assist researchers.
      blogs, as 'groklaw' could be affiliated with the site. users could create their own blogs at the site, for patent/ip related matters.

      slashdoters! any more ideas? comments?

  3. Take off every 'patent'... FOR GREAT JUSTICE !!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    On June 30, the Patent Busting Project's team of tough lawyers and brainy geeks will announce the contest winners - or losers, depending on how you look at it. And that's when the real fight for great justice begins. We'll be needing your help to research prior art for each patent and offer your technical expertise or historical knowledge. Using a legal process called "reexamination," the Patent Busting Project will ultimately go to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and attempt to take those bad patents off the books.


    I hope every /.er who has complained about the patent system is going to contribute to this... if not by submitting information, then by submitting some cold hard cash. The EFF gets 80% of their income from donations, and even though they say the lawyers will be donating their time, patent re-examinations don't come cheap: the 2004 fees are $2500 (ex parte) or $8800 (inter partes)
  4. Re:Might this not rather support the patent system by The+Hobo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not to be overly simplistic about answer this, but two wrongs won't make a right (the system as it is, and not doing anything about it), in an optimistic light if many patents get overturned it might embarrass the system into change, or at least expose it to more of the general public who use the common 'patented' technologies. Cleaning off the ridiculous patents might prevent frivolous cases from making it to court as well, and with a clogged up court system as it is, that wouldn't hurt either. I'm sure we can all think of a patent case that seems obvious that it shouldn't be in the courts but is. On an offtopic note, happy birthday me, still up to post on /. at 2 in the morning EST.

    --
    There is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men. -- Boondock Saints
  5. Re:Might this not rather support the patent system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  6. Algorithm for generating stupid E-patents by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny


    h = openFile("regular_business_behavior.txt");
    while (w = readNextWord(h)) {
    if (random(0.0,1.0) > 0.96) {
    w = w + " using a computer ";
    }
    print(w);
    }

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  7. a patent for the wheel by starworks5 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    well, the most nafarious patent of them all was when an ozzie man decided he wanted to patent the wheel, and actually succeded.

    the lawyer patented the " circular transportation facilitation device". so that means anyone who ever produced car, bike, even unicycle in australia would have to pay royalities.

    dont believe me, well check the BBC or CNN

    personally this is a prime example of intellectual rights gone amok. i would rather convert my car to square wheels before paying any damn royalites on a wheel. but i dont think it will be a problem. but just in case, im going to go patent the spherical rolling device. lets see MR. Keogh drive home without any ball bearings.

  8. Re:So what's new? by stinkfoot · · Score: 5, Informative

    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