Euh, ahem, the oceans were wired for sound years ago already. Not joking. Really.
Hydrophones were dotted around to be able to track subs, think it was somewhat declassified a few years ago (gave some new insights in whale behaviour, migration paths etc. then).
The current numbering scheme started with Pat.Nr. 1 (one). And I admire the clerks at the time there for their humour, by selecting the invention of the 'Wheel' as the first =)
US 1 - Traction Wheels - patented july 13 1836 by Mr. Ruggles!
To prevent a patent being issued or have it voided, you just need prior art that's been published. So just your in-house documentation or source doesn't cut it, doc's that have been published i.e. provable to have been available to a relevant public will do perfectly. You really don't need a patent to prevent a patent!
In the IP-world there are special 'Technical Disclosure Bulletins' where inventions can be published that you don't want to patent but want to prevent others from patenting.
Slashdot Mirror
Euh, ahem, the oceans were wired for sound years ago already. Not joking. Really.
Hydrophones were dotted around to be able to track subs, think it was somewhat declassified a few years ago (gave some new insights in whale behaviour, migration paths etc. then).
The 200 years bit triggered me.
The current numbering scheme started with Pat.Nr. 1 (one). And I admire the clerks at the time there for their humour, by selecting the invention of the 'Wheel' as the first =)
US 1 - Traction Wheels - patented july 13 1836 by Mr. Ruggles!
Euh, no.
To prevent a patent being issued or have it voided, you just need prior art that's been published. So just your in-house documentation or source doesn't cut it, doc's that have been published i.e. provable to have been available to a relevant public will do perfectly. You really don't need a patent to prevent a patent!
In the IP-world there are special 'Technical Disclosure Bulletins' where inventions can be published that you don't want to patent but want to prevent others from patenting.