Feb
20
Patent news
Posted by Dirk Avery at 10:04 am under Patent.
Alexander Graham Bell’s famous telephone patent secured by bribery?
Former patent examiner, Zenas F. Wilber, admits to being bribed by Alexander Graham Bell’s attorney to award Bell the telephone patent over rival Elisha Gray. Of course, that was 1876. However, a new book, The Telephone Gambit, by science historian Seth Shulman, sheds new positive light on the story’s authenticity. A Washington Post article discusses the new book and the debate over the story’s veracity.
High-tech companies also part of patent-reform lobbying fray
Last week we wrote about how the chemical and pharmaceutical companies had spent heavily on patent reform. CNNMoney reported yesterday that high-tech companies were well represented in 2007 as well. The Coalition for Patent Fairness, whose members include tech behemoths Microsoft and Apple, and other high-tech companies, paid a lobbying firm $600,000 in 2007 to lobby for reform aimed at reducing frivolous litigation and producing higher-quality patents.
Amicus briefs in support of software patents due April 5, 2008
If you’ve ever considered writing an amicus brief, especially one in support of software patents, now is the time to dust off those arguments and get writing. The CAFC’s sua sponte decision, In re Bilski, to rehear en banc this and other issues was filed February 15. Oral argument is scheduled for May 8.
There are some policy reasons why software should not be protected by patents. However, most of the arguments for or against software protection can also be applied to patent protection generally. I have been programming for about 20 years now and I believe the process of inventing in the software realm to be very similar to other arts for which patent protection is not questioned.
Subject: Senator Jeff Sessions, dishonesty and injustice!
An amendment to the Patent Reform Bill, sponsored by Senator Jeff Sessions, has been withdrawn by the Senator himself. This amendment received full approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee and had the backing of (The Coalition for Patent Fairness) - (Fairness by definition - freedom from dishonesty and injustice). The Coalition for Patent Fairness is a group of high-tech companies. They, are backed by (The Financial Round Table.) This institution represents the countries one hundred largest banks. These banks, now have a serious financial problem. (*They are presently involved in a patent infringement law suit.) A finding of willful infringement, will subject the banks to treble damages. (Three times the amount, that a jury would award, as per existing patent legislation.) The potential cost to the banks,? One Billion dollars (plus or minus.) If passed, the proposed amendment would shift this billion dollar expense to the American tax payer., By Senator Sessions own admission, “I don’t know how (the provision) can be modified to pass a constitutional muster”. They were attempting to add an unconstitutional amendment, to the Patent Reform Bill ,to save their financial hide . Senator Sessions has also stated that,” I think this has more to do with lobbyists, than it has to do with merit. Please, lets call a spade a spade. This action has more to do with lobbyists, buying politicians, than it has to do with merit. It has to do with corrupt politicians, putting financial gain before their civic duty.
(*The case, Data Treasury VS. Wells Fargo, and numerous other banks, was filed on Feb 24,2006 and is still in progress.)
In the interest of honesty and justice, let the court decide this issue? Banks ,attempting to buy an unconstitutional amendment to the Patent Reform Bill, does not fit into this equation!