Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Town Gets Patent On Being the Center of Europe

Posted by samzenpus on from the continental-drift-be-damned dept.

An anonymous reader writes "And you thought software patents were going to far? How about geography patents? Apparently, as a part of the weird fight over what place in Europe represents the 'geophysical center of Europe,' the Austrian town of Frauenkirchen has received a patent (Austrian patent AM 7738/2003) declaring it the center of Europe. Not clear how one 'infringes' on such a patent, but then again, it's not clear why anyone's patenting this either."

11 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. When Turkey gets the go ahead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Obviously this patent should be revoked when Turkey Joins the EU, as the center should shift eastwards

    1. Re:When Turkey gets the go ahead by Sique · · Score: 4, Funny

      Oh yes.
      It is the continent north of Africa and west of the Ural mountains.

      --
      .sig: Sique *sigh*
    2. Re:When Turkey gets the go ahead by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 3, Informative

      As someone else pointed out, the geographical meaning of "Europe" is a reference to the continent of Europe. Historically, it is only recently that "Europe" had any meaning other than this geographical meaning. While the exact geographical area denoted by the word "Europe" has changed over time, that particular usage of the word goes back to at least Herodotus. Additionally, the modern definition of Europe as a continent is actually based on physical facts.

      --
      The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  2. Meh ... by dc29A · · Score: 4, Funny

    Meh ... still not as cool as living in Fucking.

    1. Re:Meh ... by symes · · Score: 4, Funny

      I find this hilarious - there's a whole bunch more here. My favourites are, along with Fucking, Wank (Germany), Dildo (Canada) and Cock (UK).

  3. Underground by jbeaupre · · Score: 3, Funny

    Because the Earth is curved, the actual geophysical location is going to be many kilometers underground. So technically, they are all fighting over who is closest to Hell. No, not that Hell (Norway), the Hell

    --
    The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  4. Re:Doubtful by danlip · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Austria must be some small country. never heard of that one..

    Seriously? Ever hear of Vienna (in Austria), one of the most important cities in European cultural history? Mozart? Strauss? Freud? Schrödinger? and many others.

  5. Re:Doubtful by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    GP may or may not have heard of Schrödinger...

    --
    I hate printers.
  6. Re:For tourism, obviously... by Abstrackt · · Score: 3, Funny

    We tried something similar to raise tourism here in Canada. With famous alterations to the English language (i.e. "what's that aboot?" and the ever-classic "eh"), killer mosquitoes (why watch Jurassic Park when you can live it?), and our happy-go-lucky play-hockey-anywhere-that's-frozen (everywhere) attitude we've managed to achieve global recognition. And instead of T-shirts (because everyone does those), we have the line "I went to Canada and all I got was this stupid hangover" you'll often hear at customs when tourists are leaving our beautiful country.

    --
    They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance. - Terry Pratchett
  7. Re:Doubtful by Ecuador · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think the point is that he both has and has not heard of Schrödinger...

    --
    Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
  8. Re:Doubtful by oodaloop · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The real center of Europe is probably in the UK, Germany, France, or Russia. Austria must be some small country. never heard of that one..

    Have you ever seen a map of Europe? Like, ever? How would the UK be at the center? I can forgive you for Germany, since it's right next to Austria. France is next to Germany, so not quite. Russia is almost as bad as UK.

    --
    Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.