4 ms·
Aha... Vernor Vinge predicted the device. I never realised the future can become past so fast.
by ommunist 11y ago
Aha... Vernor Vinge predicted the device. I never realised the future can become past so fast.
- shostack 11y agoRainbow's End is one of my favorite books, and he predicts quite a bit in it. Patent question--could something like Rainbow's End ever be used to invalidate this patent?
- noonespecial 11y agoIt has at least been suggested in the "Donald Duck cartoon raising a ship" patent: http://www.iusmentis.com/patents/priorart/donaldduck/ http://www.iusmentis.com/patents/priorart/donaldduck/ At the very least, it strikes a serious blow against the novelty aspect.
- dekhn 11y agoScience fiction works are not prior art.
- sitkack 11y agoThey are when the patent is on a concept, not an implementation.
- dekhn 11y agoThere isn't such a thing as a concept patent. Concepts are copyrighted. You may be thinking of design patents. Citation to utility patent overturned by prior art from science fiction, please?
- sitkack 11y agoSo how can one patent something one can't actually build. I would call that a concept patent.
- david-given 11y ago<pedant> Rainbows End </pedant> But yes, I really like it too. I wish he'd write a sequel. There's plenty more mileage to Mr. Rabbit. Also, could someone hurry up and invent UP/Ex? Pneumatic mortars firing disposable cardboard gliders are so obviously better than any sensible approach to last-mile package delivery...
- aetherson 11y agoIt even has a freaking chapter named "The missing apostraphe."
- dekhn 11y agoContact lenses with cameras and retinal projection devices have long been a sci fi device.