>>>>> "RN" == Radford Neal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
RN> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
RN> T.S. Lim <Use-Author-Address-Header@[127.1]> wrote:
>> Suppose you've created a new algorithm, formula, test,
>> graphical display or other statistical innovations. Would you
>> consider patenting it? Why? What are the pros and cons? What do
>> professional statistical societies have to say about this
>> issue? AFAIK, patenting a statistical innovation is not common
>> among statisticians, is it? Comments?
RN> It seems that patenting statistical algorithms is uncommon.
RN> We must hope that it stays that way. In fields such as data
RN> compression where patent madness has taken over, it is now
RN> impossible to do anything without worrying about infringing
RN> numerous patents, most of which are for things that were
RN> invented many times before they were patented, by people who
RN> thought they were too simple and obvious to bother patenting.
RN> Even if such patents are invalid, they substantially impede
RN> future research, since getting them invalidated is costly.
And here's an example:
United States Patent 6,030,341
Skates , et al. February 29, 2000
ROC method for early detection of disease
Abstract
A method of assessing risk of an individual for a disease is
disclosed. A level of a marker for the disease is detected, and the
risk of disease is computed from a statistical analysis of the marker
level distributions for tested normal and diseased populations, using
multivariate distributions. The computed risk is compared to
thresholds to triage the individual into a normal, borderline, or
elevated risk group, and a course of action based on the risk group is
determined. Memory storing a program for execution on a data
processing system, as well as a computer system comprising said memory
is also disclosed, the memory comprising a receiver for signals
representative of levels of a marker for the disease; a central
processing unit for computing risk of disease from one or more levels
of the marker, and for comparing the computed risk to thresholds to
triage the individual; and storage medium for the marker levels for
subsequent computations of risk of disease.
Inventors: Skates; Steven J. (Cambridge, MA); Jacobs; Ian (Bromley,
GB); Knapp; Robert (Chestnut Hill, MA)
Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Boston, MA)
Appl. No.: 139088
Filed: August 24, 1998
Current U.S. Class: 600/300; 128/923
Intern'l Class: A61B 005/00
Field of Search: 600/300 705/2-3 395/22 128/920-924
--
A.J. Rossini Rsrch. Asst. Prof. of Biostatistics
UW Biostat/Center for AIDS Research [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FHCRC/SCHARP/HIV Vaccine Trials Net [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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