Prompt's TechBlog
Beam me up, US Patent Office
21 February 2006
Posted by Sean McManus
We've seen all manner of incremental improvements patented as inventions in the last few years. Amazon holds a patent on 1-click ordering, for example, forcing its competitors to make their ordering less convenient just because Amazon was first to streamline the process to its obvious ideal. James Gleick has documented more failings in the patent system, but we're encouraged by this latest news, reported at the patent law blog. Some wag decides to patent a warp drive, and submits an application, including detailed illustrations. The US Patent Office replies with a smile and the formal reponse: "Applicant is required to furnish a model of the instant invention."
# posted by Sean McManus at 10:02 AM 
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