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The Public Patent Foundation Fights for Freedom From Bad Patents (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the we-remember-the-cat-laser-pointer-toy-patent-all-too-well dept.

The Public Patent Foundations Fights for Patent Freedom (Video) The PUBPAT website's About page says, "The Public Patent Foundation at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law ('PUBPAT') is a not-for-profit legal services organization whose mission is to protect freedom in the patent system." Today's interviewee, Daniel B. Ravicher, is the group's Executive Director and founder. Eben Moglen is on the Board of Directors, and PUBPAT's goals have been aligned with the FSF since PUBPAT started. The most publicized PUBPAT success so far was, in conjunction with the ACLU, getting patents on naturally-occurring genes overturned. Go, PUBPAT!

2 of 36 comments (clear)

  1. "bad" patents by jmcvetta · · Score: 2, Insightful

    All patents are bad patents. The ownership of ideas is immoral. It is an affront to human dignity, and retards social & technological progress. We must work for the abolition of idea property just as our ancestors fought to abolish human property.

    1. Re:"bad" patents by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I don't accept the premise, "Trade secrets impede technological progress". A lot of technology is developed in parallel, but the company that wins the race to the patent office can shut out the contributions of its competitors, even if the competitor has a superior approach. Yes, cross-licensing is possible, but it's not guaranteed to happen, and the legal wrangling that often precedes such agreements can slow the pace of progress substantially.

      And I don't accept the premise, "Patents don't (except where they're bogus)". What are your sources? Where are the controlled studies supporting these contentions?

      And why would "bogus" patents have the magical power to impede technological progress, which "non-bogus" patents are somehow magically denied? I find your distinction to be bogus.