That's a quote from a fundraising letter written in October 2006 that made me chuckle. It caught my eye as I was looking for a good quote from Barack Obama about innovation."And If we really want our children to become the great inventors and problem-solvers of tomorrow, our schools shouldn't stifle innovation, they should let it thrive." Barack Obama
According to his website Obama will appoint the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer (CTO). I have to say our new president comes across as a genuine nerd. And I'm loving his attitude.
Barack Obama on Reforming the Patent System: Giving the USPTO the resources to improve patent quality and opening up the patent process to citizen review will reduce the uncertainty and wasteful litigation that is currently a significant drag on innovation. With better informational resources, the USPTO could offer patent applicants who know they have significant inventions the option of a rigorous and public peer review that would produce a "gold-plated" patent much less vulnerable to court challenge. Where dubious patents are being asserted, the USPTO could conduct low-cost, timely administrative proceedings to determine patent validity.
Peer group review? Ok. I'm wondering if the sheer volume of patent applications would allow for this? What do you think?
Photo courtesy of http://www.barackobama.com
Call me skeptical, but it seems as if peer reviewing patents may not be the best solution. What will qualify someone as a peer reviewer? Since time is money, it’ll be tough for anyone busy with their own work to bother reading lengthy patents, without monetary incentive. It’ll take a special brand of person – one with expertise in their field as well as a strong interest in the USPTO – to review these patents.
Maybe the best solution is to inspect prior art more thoroughly?
I’m so glad Barak Obama is president because I know he will be a great president,Oh by the way your blog is awsome
all this hype about patents is a bunch of crap. spend a few thousand on attorneys etc. only to have some bastard come along and snatch the patent away from you with some small detail change,who needs it, i say if the patent is simple get a provisional and then go like hell and make all the money you can—be the first to jump
my opinion
charlie
With so many “Companies” offering patent search, Patent Filing, Design and Marketing, and everyone of them with a disclaimer as to their end product. It seems to me the best place to make corrections and make the whole process more friendly to the Inventor, would be to have iron clad legal ramifications for the Company doing the Patent search for all prior art. Then when there is a misstep in the research, the Company that was paid quite well to do said research, BEFORE applying for a Patent, would be held financially accountable. Plus, as an added benefit, we can begin to get the Attorneys out of the picture.
In Europe, applications are published for everyone to see and comment. Normally competitors or potentially affected people or companies do track applications to see whether the patent is infringing any of its right and then have a formal procedure to claim and stop the grant until the applicant makes amendments satisfying the examiner.