Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Patents vs. Secrecy

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the need-to-know-basis dept.

giampy writes "New Scientist is reporting that the NSA appears to be having its patent applications increasingly blocked by the Pentagon. From the article: 'the fact that the Pentagon is classifying things that the NSA believes should be public is an indication of how much secrecy has crept into government over the past few years.'"

8 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. If you can't patent it... by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Funny

    publish it! :D

    1. Re:If you can't patent it... by nmb3000 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dear sir.

      I can tell by your UID that you're not new here. I can only believe that perhaps you've been on sabbatical for the last 7 years. Perhaps you are recently recovering from amnesia? Did you buy your Slashdot account on Ebay?

      In any case it is my unfortunate duty to inform you that everything is the Bush administration's fault. In fact, I have it on good authority that the Bush administration caused cancer, created the 2004 Tsunami, and were the real authors behind the "Hot Coffee" mod. These acts and many others been uncovered by trusted sites such as MichaelMoore.com, The Onion, and Slashdot.

      The truth is that they are responsible for just about everything since their takeover of the Lewinsky administration. Sorry to break it to you like this but they are pure dag-nasty evil, it's just a fact.

      --
      "What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
      /)
  2. win/win by tooba · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does this mean that there are a bunch of secret ideas out there that I can patent for my own personal profit? Score!

  3. Re:Inventions for Bond Jr. by afaik_ianal · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh no - we're all screwed...

    "US04375625 Method and apparatus for penetrating tin-foil hats"

  4. I suppose by coredump-0x00001 · · Score: 2, Funny

    George W. Bush is secretly patented for breakthroughs in stupidity and frequent mispronunciation of the word nuclear.

  5. Re:There is not enough data... by Zordak · · Score: 4, Funny

    Man, it happens every time. There always has to be some killjoy who comes along spouting "reason" and "thiking" and raining all over the parade. The proper response here is to jump to some result-oriented conclusions and indulge in some good old-fashioned reactionary government bashing. Next you're going to start blaspheming and say there might even be a legitimate security-related reason for keeping those patents secret. I mean, what are you, some paid Bush administration shill? Next time, please try to post a little before you think.

    --

    Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
  6. Never mess with the guys that can answer by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 2, Funny
    Never mess with the guys that can answer the question: "You and what army?".

    US Military: "We don't want you to release that information."

    You: "Oh yeah who is going to make me? You and what army?"

    US Military: "Well......."

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  7. Re:There is not enough data... by Robert+Link · · Score: 2, Funny

    At this rate, how long will it be before the bill of rights falls into desuetude?

    Judging from the whinging during the lead-up to the last election, the Bill of Rights was supposed to have been history not later than sometime last month; yet it's still with us. But, then, that's the government for you; they never could deliver anything on schedule or within budget.

    -rpl