5 ms·

Patents are broken. I give you: The Stick. https://patents.google.com/patent/US6360693 https://patents.google.com/patent/US6360693 HN discussion: https://news

Patents are broken. I give you: The Stick. https://patents.google.com/patent/US6360693 https://patents.google.com/patent/US6360693 HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2102388 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2102388 Also: we all owe license fees for using gravity. https://patents.google.com/patent/US6368227B1/en https://patents.google.com/patent/US6368227B1/en

Schwolop 8y ago
I see yours and raise you this: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070244837 https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070244837 "System and method for extracting value from a portfolio of assets" - a.k.a. The process of being a patent troll is patented.
- lisper 8y ago
  As an experiment I once applied for and received a patent on a faster-than-light communications system: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7126691B2/en https://patents.google.com/patent/US7126691B2/en The patent system is FUBAR.
  - saalweachter 8y ago
    And if anyone builds an FTL communication system based on your design, your rights will be protected.
    - lisper 8y ago
      Yeah, but only for the next four years so they better hurry it up.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- anticensor 8y ago
  https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170213291A1 https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170213291A1 He patented automated patent troll. Unfortunately, this will not hold in court.
krylon 8y ago
I vaguely recall some guy in Australia took out a patent on the wheel a couple of years back as part of a crusade to show how broken the patent system was. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn965-wheel-patented-in-australia/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn965-wheel-patented-in...
- anticensor 8y ago
  It is an innovation (i.e. minor) patent, though, not utility (i.e. invention needed) patent. Some patent offices have this kind of patent and it usually has less protection and easier application than utility patents.
mustacheemperor 8y ago
Worth noting that both of those patents were re-examined and later rejected. Not excusing its larger flaws, but a system with throughput like the USPTO must make mistakes occasionally, and these were corrected.

Schwolop 8y ago

I see yours and raise you this: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070244837 https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070244837 "System and method for extracting value from a portfolio of assets" - a.k.a. The process of being a patent troll is patented.

lisper 8y ago
As an experiment I once applied for and received a patent on a faster-than-light communications system: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7126691B2/en https://patents.google.com/patent/US7126691B2/en The patent system is FUBAR.
- saalweachter 8y ago
  And if anyone builds an FTL communication system based on your design, your rights will be protected.
  - lisper 8y ago
    Yeah, but only for the next four years so they better hurry it up.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
anticensor 8y ago
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170213291A1 https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170213291A1 He patented automated patent troll. Unfortunately, this will not hold in court.

krylon 8y ago

I vaguely recall some guy in Australia took out a patent on the wheel a couple of years back as part of a crusade to show how broken the patent system was. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn965-wheel-patented-in-australia/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn965-wheel-patented-in...

anticensor 8y ago
It is an innovation (i.e. minor) patent, though, not utility (i.e. invention needed) patent. Some patent offices have this kind of patent and it usually has less protection and easier application than utility patents.

mustacheemperor 8y ago

Worth noting that both of those patents were re-examined and later rejected. Not excusing its larger flaws, but a system with throughput like the USPTO must make mistakes occasionally, and these were corrected.