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US Patent Office Seeks Aid To Spot Bogus Patent Claims

Posted by samzenpus on from the more-eyes dept.

First time accepted submitter startling writes "Members of the public are being asked by the US Patent Office to help weed out bogus patent applications. It wants the public to contribute to a website that will spot applications for patents on technologies that have already been invented. The website, called Ask Patents, will be run by US firm Stack Exchange that has a track record of operating Q&A websites."

2 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. Bayesian Spam Filter by retroworks · · Score: 5, Funny

    I found a virus on my computer which was taking random terms and filing USPTO claims, debiting $ filing fees from my bank account. Oddly, USPTO granted more patent claims than people clicked on the links selling viagra ten years ago.

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    Gently reply
  2. Re:First of the many bogus patents by Google by O422 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Google patent in question covers a particular method of managing multiple personas. I, for example, could have a persona of "Sarten-X", which I could use for my programming and other online dealings, and "John Smith", which I use for my professional and audio work. When someone interacts with me on a social network, they can pick which profile they're interacting with.

    Yeah, multiple usernames. Now that's not obvious at all! Hell, even schizophrenia predates it!