The word "valid" is misleading here. If a patent has issued it is "valid" in the sense that its owners can drag you before a judge if they have a case that you are infringing the patent - but the real "validity" of the patent only becomes apparent at this point. Many "valid" issued patents turn out not to be worth the paper they are written on because they are so poorly crafted that they are indefensible under examination in a litigtaion process.
Patent examiners are obliged to check the facts as far as they are able and if they find no impediment to the patent issuing (existence of prior art, obviousness, adequate disclosure to suport the claims etc. etc. etc.) they will issue the patent - but ultimately, the scope and effectiveness of the patent in assuring exclusivity for its inventors within a particular domain of activity, is never really known until it is challenged in court. BTW: I work in biotech, where "valid" issued patents fall like flies in the legal bugzapper. Best Gordon --- kee nethery <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Dec 8, 2004, at 11:37 AM, Frank D. Engel, Jr. > wrote: > > > Hmm.. sounds like something other programs have > been doing for a long > > time already. Take FileMaker Pro, for example... > > > > I wonder if the patent is actually valid? > > if it is issued it is valid. Does someone who cares > have prior art that > would invalidate the patent and does someone who > cares and has enough > money to invalidate it know about that prior art. > That's the big > question. If issued, it is valid. > > Kee Nethery > > _______________________________________________ > use-revolution mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution > ===== :::::::::: Gordon Webster :::::::::: _______________________________________________ use-revolution mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
