I like the U.S. Patent, Trademark, and Copyright system. It is part of the foundation of my country and was written into our Constitution from the beginning. Some organizations may find ways to unfairly exploit the system, however, in the end, common sense tends to prevail and the exploitation is undone and the process and intent of the IP system becomes more clearly defined along the way. For example, in 1993 Compton's was awarded a patent for "the search and retrieval of text, pictures, audio, and animated data", clearly ridiculous to those of us in the industry at the time. By March of 1994 upon challenge and review the patent was rescinded.
Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution reads: "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;" Sounds like a great idea to me. Let's encourage people to do useful things and allow them to be rewarded for it! This system has worked quite well for the last 200+ years in providing many of the modern conveniences I enjoy every day. I feel encouraged that if I do invent something completely novel I can recoup the investment I made in pursuit of the invention for a limited time. Of course you are free to "invent a better mousetrap", you could even Patent the better mousetrap and if you feel the desire give it away for nothing in return, or not. In my opinion, this is true freedom. Being forced to give away something or worse yet, not having legal protection when something is taken from me is the opposite of freedom. Note: These opinions are strictly my own and are not to be construed to be the views of my employer or anyone else. > -----Original Message----- > From: Tim Churches [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 7:00 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: More US patent madness > > > See http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/02/1086058889577.html > > In the 19th and 20th Centuries the struggle was over the > ownership of capital > means of production. In the 21st Century it is increasingly > clear that the struggle > will be over the right to use ideas. George Monbiot has > written some thought > provoking articles on this - see for example > http://www.guardian.co.uk/globalisation/story/0,7369,665969,00.html > > Tim C >
