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Senate Passes Landmark Patent Reform Bill

Posted by samzenpus on from the problem-solved dept.

inkscapee writes "The US Senate is congratulating itself for passing a 'landmark' piece of patent reform legislation. Some key elements are 'first to file' instead of first to invent, and ending fee diversion, which means fees paid to the Patent Office will actually fund the Patent Office. Curiously, this practice has resulted in a backlog of 700,000 patent applications. The House is reportedly working on a similar bill, and soon harmony and rationality will triumph."

1 of 362 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Ha by ByOhTek · · Score: 1, Troll

    Consider:

    Joe Schmoe is familiar with with the production of FOO. FOO is expensive to produce, an individual probably could produce one without prohibitive cost.
    Joe has figured a way to make BAR, an item significantly better than FOO, but it still costs about the same as FOO.
    Joe wants to sell BAR to companies, doesn't want them to steal it from him. With a first-to-prototype style of patent, Joe has no protection.

    --
    Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).