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Perhaps.... | 200 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
Perhaps....
Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 29 2012 @ 06:45 PM EDT

True, the re-sale would not benefit the inventor... but the proceeds from the original sale would. Additionally, one would expect to negotiate a much higher payment for a full sale as opposed to only licensing.

And then there's the potential added liabilities the inventor may not want with a unique licensing (can't remember the exact term, where the inventor only licenses to a single entity). If the licensee decided that third party X infringed and that the inventor was derelict in his duties to enforce, the licensee could then sue the inventor for possible breach of contract - depending on the contract terms of course. Meaning: a troll will find a way to abuse the system even if it's by forcing someone else to act in that abuse.

I think the bottom line is simple:

    There are those that would abuse the litigation process as a form of blackmail.
Unfortunately, I don't believe placing limitations on the inventor will be the correct way to solve such problems.

I think one correct method to limit the effect of patent trolling (in specific) would be to remove the opening of patents when the words "anything under the sun" were added. Bring back the more stringent requirements that "not all inventions are deserving of the monopoly that patent protection grants". I've said it before and I'll say it again: it was a sad day when the Thomas Jefferson's no longer were the patent examiners.

That would just be one step. Another step is for the USPTO to hire "practiced individuals in the art" and see if they can build the "invention". If it can't be built, then the inventor must supply a working model. If the inventor can't supply such a working model, the invention is denied.

This would have three effects:

First: it confirms the invention is described in sufficient detail that a practitioner in the art can duplicate the invention.

Second: At this time, I think there's a very wide door open where someone could claim to have built the warp engine when not even they could build the technology because the knowledge and materials required are simply outside the scope of modern science. This would prevent claims to an invention that simply is not possible under current knowledge. If it's not patented, others would feel much more free to perform their own R&D into the technology thereby driving the inventive juices rather then stifling them.

Third: It would clearly show those simpler inventions that could "be done in their entirety within the mind".

RAS

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

  • Perhaps.... - Authored by: Anonymous on Tuesday, May 29 2012 @ 07:11 PM EDT
  • Perhaps.... - Authored by: Tufty on Tuesday, May 29 2012 @ 11:13 PM EDT
  • Perhaps.... - Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, May 30 2012 @ 12:50 AM EDT
  • Perhaps.... - Authored by: Wol on Wednesday, May 30 2012 @ 03:56 PM EDT
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