The Patent Cold War

November 24th, 2005

I’ve spent quite a lot of time over the last couple of years playing the patents game, and developed some strongish opinions about it. So I decided to write them up in an article I’ve called
The Patent Cold War.

The current patent system is something of a farce. Almost everybody involved in it knows this, but it’s a game we all have to keep playing because nobody can afford to be the first one to stop.

Possibly related, but possibly totally unrelated, posts include
 "The Patent Cold War revisited"  "Worrying news about EU patents"  "[untitled]"  "Defensibility

3 Responses to “The Patent Cold War”

  1. David Says:

    Compulsory licenses.

  2. Hap Says:

    I suggest two additional changes to the patenting process. These would further ameliorate the problems you have identified: 1. Publication of patent applications immediately upon their filing. 2. Permitting and encouraging public commentary on claims of novelty and non-obviousness in patent applications.

  3. qsf Says:

    Thanks, Hap - yes, indeed - there definitely needs to be a way for people viewing published applications to leave notes for the eventual examiner… ‘Please take into consideration this publication from 1996′, or ‘The X-Windows system already does this’.

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