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Man Tries to Patent His "Godly Powers"

Posted by samzenpus on from the this-patent-brought-to-you-by-shampoo dept.

KWInt1601 writes "A man who believes he is Christ files a patent application — and the formal dance of responding to office actions from the USPTO begins. Invoking the 1998 State Street decision, the applicant argues, 'like software, godly powers is a method, and affects a machine. Like business methods, godly powers produces a useful, concrete, and tangible result, and that should be all that's needed for statutory material.'"

5 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. On year statutory bar by Sonny+Yatsen · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If he says that he is Christ, then he's clearly publicly disclosed his "invention" 2000 years ago. The one year statutory bar prevents him from receiving a patent on this. Thus, the powers of Christ is in the public domain.

    --
    My postings are informational and does not constitute legal advice. Act on it at your risk.
    1. Re:On year statutory bar by VortexCortex · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If he says that he is Christ, then he's clearly publicly disclosed his "invention" 2000 years ago. The one year statutory bar prevents him from receiving a patent on this. Thus, the powers of Christ is in the public domain.

      Ah, but computers are relatively new, so using "Powers of Christ" "on a computer" will surely be patentable.

      I mean, gestures aren't patentable, unless you're using them on a computer, and math isn't patentable -- unless it's the instructions that make up software in a computer...

  2. This is what we get by rolfwind · · Score: 4, Insightful

    when working models are no longer required. This and patent trolls.

  3. Re:Please grant it... by hedwards · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Probably a good thing then that churches are the last place that you'll ever find God.

  4. No can do, Sonny Jim. by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The whole point of a patent is disclosure in exchange for a monopoly of limited term. Since it has been repeatedly emphasized that God works in mysterious ways to which mortals are not privy, clearly the apparatus and method in question have not been adequately disclosed to the copyright office.

    Arguably, since God has retained these powers as a closely held Mystery, licenced only on a limited basis to his fertilitity and translation services provider subsidiary, Holy Spirit LLC, and a number of middle-eastern contractors to which he has outsourced prophetic work over the years, Godly power would be better served by Trade Secret, rather than Patent, protection...