[cctalk] Re: Floppy disk

[Paul Koning via cctalk]

> On Jun 10, 2026, at 4:15 PM, Murray McCullough via cctalk 
> <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> 
> I see by historical records that IBM patented the 8" floppy disk in 1972.
> It produced and released the disk in 1971. Was there a reason for this?

Are you asking why the patent is later than the release?  That's common because 
patents normally take at least 2 and up to 10 or so years from filing before 
being granted (if they are granted).

If the filing, as opposed to the grant, was in 1972, that could be because US 
patent law allows a filing up to a year after "publication" of the invention, 
such as the release of a product that uses the invention.  Other countries 
don't have that grace period.

        paul