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UK Judge: Who needs software patents?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the the-question-many-ask dept.

Glyn Moody writes "C|Net has a surprising story about a seminar given by a top judge at the U.K.'s Court of Appeal who specializes in intellectual-property law. According to the article, he has "questioned whether software patents should be granted, and has criticized the U.S. for allowing "anything under the sun" to be patented." Is the tide turning?"

10 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Turning tide by ClippySay · · Score: 5, Funny

    / You look like you are trying to turn   \
    | the tide. Turning the tide is patented |
    | by Microsoft and is not implemented    |
    | yet. Shall I call the police? Feds?    |
    \ BSA?                                   /
            \     ____
             \   / __ \
              \  O|  |O|
                 ||  | |
                 ||  | |
                 ||    |
                  |___/

    --
    cpu0: Microsoft Clippium ("GenuineClippy" ChromedMetal-Class). Paperbinding, lockpicking, fish-hook-hack support.
  2. Re:Pay for the Progress Bar You Use! by Harmonious+Botch · · Score: 5, Funny

    A baking thermometer is prior art.

  3. No by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Is the Tide Turning?"

    No.

    This subversive will be dealt with quickly and harshly. Already the muck rakers are fervently searching for mud to fling at this commu-terrorist.

    We are the IP companies. Fire your lawyers and prepare to be sued. We shall add your intellectualy distictive property portfolio to our own. Justice is futile.

    This message brought to you in association with: "The USPTO. For a more prosperous, litigious future."

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  4. Notice to appear by AeroIllini · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Is the tide turning?"

    Hardly. This judge is in the UK, and is clearly in violation of U.S. Patent #15648663245877954-5468, "Method for Citizens of Foreign Countries to Criticize the United States on Matters of Intellectual Property," filed by my company, Litigious Bastards, Inc., on November 3, 2002. He will be hearing from our lawyers shortly.

    --
    For security, the MD5 hash of this message and sig is 09f911029d74e35bd84156c5635688c0.
  5. Re: santa by Black+Parrot · · Score: 4, Funny

    > i could probably patent my ass if i tried to

    But would anyone pay you royalties for it?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  6. Immediately thereafter ... by athomascr · · Score: 5, Funny
    According to the article, he has "questioned whether software patents should be granted, and has criticized the U.S. for allowing "anything under the sun" to be patented."
    Immediately thereafter, the USPTO approved a patent on his questions.
  7. Re:Pay for the Progress Bar You Use! by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Funny

    The word "non-obvious" has been completey removed as a screening criteria from the patent process.

    Sir, here at the USPTO we take pride in granting patents without consideration of trifling concepts such as; gross obviousness, unoriginality and indeed patentability itself.

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  8. Re:santa by Intron · · Score: 4, Funny

    i could probably patent my ass if i tried to

    Rejected - too broad

    --
    Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.
  9. Re:Is the tide turning? No. by umeboshi · · Score: 4, Funny

    God has a patent on the "Hello World" program. We are still waiting for Him to finish His "Goodbye Cruel World" program.

  10. Re: santa by smoker2 · · Score: 4, Funny
    > i could probably patent my ass if i tried to

    But would anyone pay you royalties for it?

    Sorry, Prior art