[ExI] Problem with Pattents

[ablainey at aol.com]

-----Original Message-----

From: Tom Tobin <korpios at korpios.com>













>First off, the inventor should consider themselves lucky that they are

>receiving a patent *at all*.  Second, yes, the useful *chronological*

>lifetime of an invention is shortened — thus making it all the more

>important to shorten the patent time.  This is not punishment; if the

>inventor wants to keep making money off of patents, well, guess what —

>they need to *keep inventing*.



Exactly, I can see no logical reason for inventors to get a free lunch after the recouping of the invention cost.

For me the biggest pay off is knowing I have beaten the problem and made the world a slightly better place (hopefully).

My plumber doesn't ask me for a check every time I turn on the water, just because he worked hard at the outset.



>>  I see it quite differently - IP, including copyright and patents,

>>  should be forever. No limits whatsoever. If you invented the wheel,

>>  your 55th generation descendant should still get the royalties....



>This is one of the most awful ideas I've ever encountered.  (I've

>encountered it before, but, still.)  I'd rather have zero IP than

>forever-IP; progress would be *faster* without the chilling effect of

>having to constantly come up with ridiculous workarounds to avoid

>running afoul of a patent.



Indeed this is a truly awful idea. It would lead to stagnation in innovation and create a class divide beyond comprehension.



Might I propose a 'united world invention registry'. Where every new patentable device can be registered for free by the original inventor. 

Anyone could browse the director for a device which fits their need and the specs downloaded. Manufacturers could register themselves against a device

 and the registry updated with how many working examples of that device have been manufactured/sold etc.

If the cost of invention could somehow be factored against market usage and reimbursed accordingly to the inventor (or company paying for the development).



I can see the bones of it, where the development cost of new inventions are somehow shared globally. I would like to see the useful and most utilised inventions having 

development costs paid back quickly and in full (perhaps an additional incentive profit). Where as useless inventions (and poor manufacterers) probably won't ever get the money back.

Perhaps some kind of feedback point system could be used which accounts for the quality of the invention in quantifiable ways?
This could be linked to the OEM's which are registered against a device, giving consumer freedom.



Alex


PS apologies for the bad format. 



 


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