[sdiy] Patents

[Magnus Danielson]

From: sasami at hotkey.net.au (Ken Stone)
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Patents
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 18:54:37 +1100
Message-ID: <200412120754.iBC7sbn20359 at duckula.hotkey.net.au>

> That doesn't work anymore. If you have trouble defending a patent/copyright
> in court when it was done officially, imagine how much credence the envelope
> would be given - none.
> 
> As far as I am concerned, the best way to "protect" something from greedy
> corporates is to put it in the public domain. Sure, the @#$%s can use the
> info/design, but more importantly, they can't stop you from doing so.

This is my point too. If chances are slim that you are getting your money back
from patenting (even in a buissness), then you at least want to make sure that
you can use it. Also, it helps to bring the state of the art forward, from
which any patent needs to distinguish itself. However, depending on where the
patent has been originally registered and which other registrations it may have
undergone, such checks could be from near zero to rather extensive. Actually,
you could very well check for yourself.

The worst thing that could happend is that you have invented some method and
now you are prohibited to use it yourself.

Cheers,
Magnus

> Ken
> 
> >Years ago a friend of mine once said that a good way to copyright something
> >(might work in your case with patents), is to seal it in an envelope and
> >mail it to yourself.  That way you'll get the date of the post mark on it as
> >proof as to when you had the idea.  And in your case, you wouldn't need to
> >publish it somewhere making it possible for the public to see and use your
> >idea, just the very thing you're trying to avoid.
> >
> >-Elhardt
> >
> >
> _______________________________________________________________________
> Ken Stone   sasami at hotkey.net.au or sasami at cgs.synth.net
> Modular Synth PCBs for sale <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/synth/>
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