[PLUG-TALK] Obama expected to sign patent reform legislation

Fernando Freire freire14 at up.edu
Sat Sep 10 14:38:14 UTC 2011


In the case of Apple vs. Samsung, however, the patents that Apple filed
for (in Germany) are incredibly vague. This allows Apple to claim they
have already implemented the device, while stifling competition because
they have effectively patented a rectangle. Reference:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/61944044/Community-Design-000181607-0001

While your suggestions certainly provide a means for verifying *future*
patents, what are we to do with the already existing patents that are most
certainly breaking competition?

-----Original Message-----
From: plug-talk-bounces at lists.pdxlinux.org
[mailto:plug-talk-bounces at lists.pdxlinux.org] On Behalf Of Rich Shepard
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 6:04 AM
To: Off-topic and potentially flammable discussion
Subject: Re: [PLUG-TALK] Obama expected to sign patent reform legislation

On Fri, 9 Sep 2011, John Jason Jordan wrote:

> "The legislation also takes steps to reduce harassing litigation, and
> improve patent quality by enabling third parties to submit information
> that may be relevant to the granting of a patent."

   A random thought on this topic wandered into my brain when Keith first
brought the situation to our attention. What might be the effects on
patent trolls if legislation was passed that required patent holders to
actually use their patents in products or services, not by licensing, but
by themselves? If such proof of use did not exist for 5 years the patent
expires.

   Water rights work this way. If you don't use your right for 5 years you
lose it. If the idea of patents is to promote innovation by protecting the
inventor's ability to employ the patent in a product (I'm against service
patents), then all patent holders should be required to employ them
themselves.

Rich
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