Congress Tackles Patent Reform

nadamsieee writes "Wired's Luke O'Brian recently reported about Congress' latest attempt to reform the patent system. In the article O'Brian tells of how 'witnesses at Thursday's hearing painted a bleak picture of that system. Adam Jaffe, a Brandeis University professor and author of a book on the subject, described the system as 'out of whack.' Instead of 'the engine of innovation,' the patent has become 'the sand in the gears,' he said, citing widespread fears of litigation. The House Oversight Committee website has more details. How would you fix the patent system?"

Comments

I would devise some sort of patent-fixing hammer

[stratjakt]

And then I would patent it.

slashdot feedback

[pjrc]

Definitely the first step in patent reform is to solicit the opinions of the hoards of thoughtful, article-reading slashdot users.

Re:slashdot feedback

[Anonymous Coward]

Both of them?

Re:slashdot feedback

[piper-noiter]

So basically what we need is to open the patent system up to a Web 2.0 type format. Will it have shinny buttons and a big "NEW!" star burst in the corner? Sounds awesome.

How would I fix it?

[Erwin_D]

This may rquire some reform in labour laws first, but...

The USPTO needs to assemble a panel of 4-year-olds. Each time a patent application comes in, the panel would be asked how they would implement the title of the patent (they do not see the content). If the panel comes up with a process resembling the original patent, it would be denied.

Simple...

Definitely! "Fix" the patent system.

[ClayJar]

I think the time has certainly come for congress to "fix" the patent system. Heaven knows we don't need that thing reproducing!

Re:If congress is getting into it...

[BoberFett]

Actually we'd be better off if congress would all do what Sonny Bono did.

Yeah, yeah, tasteless. Mod me down if you must.

Re:If congress is getting into it...

[Tatarize]

How dare you sir, Bono saved the ailing copyright system. I mean, seriously under the old system the copyrights would expire after like 50 years after your death. This simply would not do! We needed an additional 20 years after our deaths to make publishing any work during our lives worthwhile.

Why just the other day I was talking to a friend who wanted to write, what would certainly be a very profitable, book for years to come. But, was leaning against it because he could only collect money for 50 stinking years after his death. I informed him of the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension act which upped that to 70 years after his death. He perked right up and started writing that same day!