Open-source Overhauls Patent System

K-boy writes "The US Patent Office has announced new plans to reform the patent system - and right up there at the front is open-source software. Techworld argues that it is in fact open-source software that has been the driving force behind the reform." From the New York Times article: "At a meeting last month with companies and organizations that support open-source software (software that can be distributed and modified freely), including I.B.M., Red Hat, Novell and some universities, officials of the patent office discussed how to give patent examiners access to better information and other ways to issue higher-quality patents. Two of the initiatives would rely on recently developed Internet technologies. An open patent review program would set up a system on the patent office Web site where visitors could submit search criteria and subscribe to electronic alerts about patent applications in specific areas."

Comments

I wish they asked me, I can do it cheaply

[dada21]

1. Lock door to patent office.
2. Throw away key.
3. Profit!!!

Even better, no need to even bother with the ??? step.

Re:I wish they asked me, I can do it cheaply

[digitaldc]

1. Lock door to patent office.
2. Throw away key.
3. Profit!!!


From the offices of Dewey, Cheatham & Howe:
It has come to our attention that you have made an unauthorized use of our lock mechanism. This letter is to inform you that the lock you have used has been patented, and you are violating the patent's rights by locking the other patents. As you neither asked for nor received permission to use this lock, you must immediately cease and desist from its use in this manner.

i.b.m.?

[Anonymous Coward]

awww IBM's finaly growing up, it got its first three periods.

Quick, patent these while you can!

[kimvette]

Please!

before the overhaul takes place will some do-no-evil company please patent the following:

  - flash advertisements which use sound

  - flash advertisements which take over your browser and shove themselves over the content you're trying to read

  - annoying flashing siezure-inducing animated GIF advertisements

and then sue every advertiser which uses that style ad for patent licensing fees, and commit to not use those style ads on any web site, EVER?

Thanks. This would be an appropriate use for patenting prior art. If you do this you will have my eternal appreciation.

Declining Quality of Patent Examiners

[Jazzer_Techie]

Obiviously the patent office needs to return to the example set in early 20th century Europe (e.g. Bern). They were hiring people like Einstein to examine patents. I don't see the USPTO working to recuit brilliant young physicists.

Google search technology

[ajdavis]

Google had participated in the discussions and it was possible that its search technology would be used in the project.

Meaning, patent examiners will now Google the phrase "customer review" before saying, "Gosh, what an original idea!"

In other news, patent examiners' computers will now have web access...

Not enough

[voice_of_all_reason]

Any fix of the patent system that doesn't address all the outstanding issues is a waste of time. I'm specifically looking for a solution involving the phrases "crush the patent office", "see them driven before me", and "hear the lamentation of the women"

deja vu...

[revery]

I think all the patents should be put in a queue that is visible to the public and that we can moderate. Also, maybe there should be a limit on how many patent submissions you can make in a day, or a week, or something. And I don't think Roland Piquepaille or Beatles Beatles should be able to patent anything.

Wait... didn't we already have this discussion today?

Too late - I already patented it!

[tomhudson]

1. Patent "other ways to issue higher-quality patents"
2. Profit!
3. Squander profits by commissioning stories to be posted on slashdot on Troll Tuesdays :-)

... well, if it works for them ...

Re:But it's an advance.

[Red Flayer]

"Members of the public can use the indexing system to evaluate the quality of proposed patents, patent holders can use it to identify weaknesses in their own patents, and companies can use the index to evaluate competitive patents relevant to a field they may be working in."

Who gave the slashcode to the patent office?

Recently developed?

[c0d3h4x0r]

recently developed Internet technologies

Database-driven web sites and web forms? It's recent in geological terms, I suppose.