> Would describing an idea in a public text constitute prior art For the United States, yes. See 35 USC 102. > and cause a patent that was filed later to be

> Would describing an idea in a public text constitute prior art For the United States, yes. See 35 USC 102. > and cause a patent that was filed later to be void? For the United States, If the patent was claiming what was described, yes. See 35 USC 102. 35 USC 102: (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/102 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/102) (a) Novelty; Prior Art.— A person shall be entitled to a patent unless— (1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or ___otherwise available to the public___ before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; or Note - there are numerous "exceptions" listed in the remainder of 35 USC 102, so for the full picture, read the whole text.