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The Sewing Machine War

lousyd writes "Volokh has hosted a paper by George Mason University law professor Adam Mossoff on the patent fracas a century and a half ago surrounding the sewing machine. A Stitch in Time: The Rise and Fall of the Sewing Machine Patent Thicket challenges assumptions by courts and scholars today about the alleged efficiency-choking complexities of the modern patent system. Mossoff says that complementary inventions, extensive patent litigation, so-called 'patent trolls,' patent thickets, and privately formed patent pools have long been features of the American patent system reaching back to the antebellum era."

10 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Intellectual property by MarkRose · · Score: 4, Funny

    When it comes to patents in the textile industry, you reap what you sew!

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    Be relentless!
    1. Re:Intellectual property by risk+one · · Score: 2, Funny

      Very funny, I'm in stitches.

  2. Re:The point by jbeaupre · · Score: 3, Funny

    2 possible conclusions:

    1) Don't get your knickers in a twist over patents. The US has managed just fine.
    2) Sewing machine patents caused the Civil War!

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    The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  3. this story has been by nimbius · · Score: 3, Funny

    covered before. an evil sewing machine is sent back in time to destroy the human resistance led by john conner, head of a local stitch'n'bitch in rural california.

    or ive proudly avoided RTFA oncemore.

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    Good people go to bed earlier.
  4. Re:The 'what' era? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think you mean "The War of Northern Aggression," deah suh.

  5. Re:The 'what' era? by publiclurker · · Score: 3, Funny

    Funny, we've always referred to it as the well justifies ass-whupin :-)

  6. Re:The difference between then and now by jbeaupre · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have extreme problem with law firms and companies composed of 2 weasels in business suits and a lawyer owning patents.

    Times are tough. It's hard to find a job. I don't buy the "Mexican's are stealing jobs" argument. But I'll be damned if I'm going to tolerate weasels putting on business suits and stealing jobs from humans!

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    The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  7. Required Quote by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 3, Funny

    In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these--Paul Harvey

  8. Re:The 'what' era? by JohnVanVliet · · Score: 4, Funny

    one of my ancient relatives married that General that burned Atlanta .. Now my daughter lives in Atlanta . i keep threatening her that i will tell her friends that .

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    "I don't pitch OpenSUSE Linux to my friends, i let Microsoft do it for me
  9. Re:Argumentum ad antiquitatem? by unitron · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought maybe you were using a definition of digital music sufficiently broad to encompass player piano rolls.

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    I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.