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The Patent Epidemic

Posted by Zonk on from the catch-the-fever dept.

cheesedog writes "BusinessWeek is running an editorial titled The Patent Epidemic, which chronicles not only how abusive and absurd our patent system has become for software and business method patents, but how it hurts even traditionally innovative fields such as the automobile industry. Interesting commentary can be found in the regular places, with Right to Create suggesting action you can take to stem the spread of this epidemic, and Patent Prospector attempting to refute BusinessWeek's arguments."

2 of 273 comments (clear)

  1. How about this simple change- by GWSuperfan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In order for a patent to be valid, the entity (person or company) owning the patent must produce at least one (1) working, real, physical example of whatever it is that they are patenting. Otherwise, the product/concept/business process/whatever else we've decided is patentable this week is subject to invalidation if someone else can produce a working example first. This would completely eliminate "patent trolls" and would provide a much larger incentive for entities seeking patents to bring their ideas/concepts/products to market more quickly.

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    Fight psychopharmacological mccarthyism. http://www.norml.org/
  2. a friend of mine in high school by kevin.fowler · · Score: 5, Interesting

    16 year old kid invents 2 cool things, takes them to 2 companies for good-faith reviews. both are patented by the companies within a month and are never commercially marketed.

    just one of many seedy things i've heard patents being used for. of course the situation is different, but it leads to the same result... stunted innovation.

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    Bury me in mashed potatoes.