--- James Knott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Even assuming you could successfully search all
> patents, what about prior art that hasn't been
> patented? As I recall, someone managed to patent
> the wheel a while back. Then there are inventions
> that have been patented elsewhere...
Patent searching software is pretty well developed
these days.
Prior art is, by definition something which has been
done and not patented, which I wrote in my post. In
many cases keeping something a "Trade secret" is a
more effective protection than filing a patent.
Of course, if someone tries to patent your "Trade
secret", you would have a cast iron "Prior art"
defence against a patent holder who tried to sue you,
since you could show that you had been using whatever
the patent covers long before the patent was awarded.
Colin.
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