I once read a primer on patents. I remember it saying, that you cannot obtain a patent for a technology that has already been published. It also stated that there is a difference between europe and the u.s.
The text suggested that a way to prevent competitors from patenting technologies crucial to you is to publish them in journals - that way the technology can never be patented and you don't have to spend huge amounts of money.
But if the patent is obtained, someone still has to challenge it....
Slashdot Mirror
Nobody should deny you of your income, so why do you feel inspired to deprive hard working record companies and artists of their justified income?
The artists don't actually get any money.
Salon had a nice piece about that. It's fun reading.
I once read a primer on patents. I remember it saying, that you cannot obtain a patent for a technology that has already been published. It also stated that there is a difference between europe and the u.s.
The text suggested that a way to prevent competitors from patenting technologies crucial to you is to publish them in journals - that way the technology can never be patented and you don't have to spend huge amounts of money.
But if the patent is obtained, someone still has to challenge it....