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Microsoft Researching Patent Law with New Experts

Posted by Zonk on from the who-needs-experience? dept.

wikinerd writes "According to The Register, Microsoft seeks to hire new patent experts. In their words, patent experience itself "is helpful but not mandatory" and advance knowledge of patent law is not required. The applicants need only be Computer Science or Electrical Engineering PhD holders, without any qualification in law. They will be involved in prior art search, patentability research and technical analysis. The article outlines some of the most controversial MS patents, such as online bill payment."

3 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. What's the big deal? by mrighi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As much as I like to poke fun at Microsoft, I don't see anything wrong with this job posting.

    Performing a prior art search requires 95% technology knowledge and 5% patent knowledge. The little patent knowledge their employees will need I'm sure they'll learn on the job. Come on, we've all sold ourselves during job interviews as being "fast learners."

    In my opinion, this is just a silly reason to ridicule Microsoft.

  2. What PhD would do this? by 314m678 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Why would anyone devote the 10 years of intense study to become a PHD in a hard science like CS or CE just to do research to see if something someone else has done is similar to something that someone else has already done.


    Wanted: PHD in physics to serve fast food through drive through window.

  3. And when you can't innovate... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Litigate.