You've just described how the European Patent Office works. In fact, there is even an additional period where, after the examing board finds your patent to be valid, your competitors can file an opposition brief and show up to provide counter-evidence to a board with a scientific/engineering background in the general area. I've done it, and it was night and day compared to dealing with the US examiners I've had to deal with.
We have modified the patent system in the recent past, we finally did away with "first to invent", and went to "first to file" like the Europeans, so maybe there is hope.
Slashdot Mirror
You've just described how the European Patent Office works. In fact, there is even an additional period where, after the examing board finds your patent to be valid, your competitors can file an opposition brief and show up to provide counter-evidence to a board with a scientific/engineering background in the general area. I've done it, and it was night and day compared to dealing with the US examiners I've had to deal with.
We have modified the patent system in the recent past, we finally did away with "first to invent", and went to "first to file" like the Europeans, so maybe there is hope.