The Patent system isn't that bad, it's just a little broken; the issue is the application. If the main requirements were more thoroughly followed and processed

The Patent system isn't that bad, it's just a little broken; the issue is the application. If the main requirements were more thoroughly followed and processed (the idea of inventing something new, useful, etc) there wouldn't be a problem. Abolishing the system would in my opinion do a lot of harm--as right now it is not beyond repair. Just spit-balling here but I'd like to see (and I encourage others to do the same because that's how answers are found, so even if they are a bit dumb (just look at mine haha) share them because maybe they'll lead to something): - Tech specialists/historians should be more entrenched within the patent office - Shorter patent terms - Jury/Panel of peers? Haha, sounds dumb but maybe in the process everyday people are put through a short explanation of the product and if at the end of the explanation someone goes, "that kind of sounds like such and such" the process is stopped and investigated. Mark Cuban had some interesting ideas on blogmaverick too, http://blogmaverick.com/2011/08/07/my-suggestion-on-patent-law/ http://blogmaverick.com/2011/08/07/my-suggestion-on-patent-l... I guess the good thing about this situation is that it has people talking.