Luc
To counter anyone who would patent an idea that was publicly known. IMO, progress is best served by people looking forward at new ideas, not by looking back to see who is nipping at their heels.
Patents do serve a purpose, don't they?
Perhaps they are used by small companies to solicit potential investors and for big companies to use a 'nearly the same patent' to fiscally crush under-financed inventors.
Excerpt from a 2006 news story:
"The United States has built a regime on the misguided notion that stronger patent rights always lead to more innovation,"
"The agency granted 164,000 patents in 2004, up from 90,000 in 1990:"
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Consider the current thread 'Mini-500 Master Blueprints on eBay'. Dennis and someone called Glloq are having an argument over the
appearance of the Mini 500 and the OH-6.
Sikorsky recently obtained six Design Patents [D524,227, D524,228, D524,229, D524,230, D524,718 and D526,269], which are simply a collection of sketches of six coaxial helicopter arraignments.
Excerpts from 'What Are Design Patents and When Are They Useful?'
"the design patent does not focus on utility; rather, it is directed toward an ornamental design of an article of commerce."
Dave
