On Mon, Jul 30, 2007 at 03:02:49PM +0530, shiv sastry wrote: > This is where the controversy about patenting old and well known stuff comes > in.
there is no controversy - old and well known stuff can't be patented. it gets patented only because overworked patent offices don't find the references to prior stuff and don't know better than to believe applicant claims that it is their new invention. patents thus granted are invalidated when old stuff is drawn to the attention of the patent office. but this happens all the time especially with the US PTO which is underfinanced and overworked; it is hardly limited to patents on turmeric. -rishab
