Begin forwarded message: From: Lars Poulsen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: November 29, 2006 12:16:10 PM EST To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [IP] and [Dewayne-Net] Wi-Fi standards face patent threat >> Patents ... have become so not what the founding fathers had in mind >> when they hardwired them into the constitution. Indeed. As a senior engineer (partner in a start-up company) it is in my best interest NOT to read any patents related to my field. If I read patents and learn anything in the process, I am obligated to try to negotiate a license for using what I learned. Since the owner of the patent is likely to be a competitor, it is likely that he will be unwilling to grant a license on terms that are acceptable to me. If I DON'T read the patents, and independently come up with the same techniques, I have a pretty good defense of obviousness. And if I keep my circuit designs and source code as trade secrets, who is to know that I achieved the same features by the same mechanisms anyway? So much for patents "promoting innovation in the arts and sciences". / Lars Poulsen Afar Communications Inc ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as [email protected] To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
