I agree it is not the system but the individuals/companies that abuse it. I wonder why so many people want to come live in the US? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tomlinson, Steven B" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 5:30 PM Subject: RE: More US patent madness
> 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 and review the patent was rescinded.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 > > >
