What if Microsoft, Google, Corel and others had their patents voided?
,----[ Quote ]
| The case in question concerns a patent submission for “managing the
| consumption risk costs of a commodity”, whatever that means. The patent
| office refused to consider such an abstract idea as patentable. However,
| many of the patents that are owned by such behemoths as Microsoft and Google
| could conceivably be argued, are based on abstract ideas.
`----
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure
%20/2008/04/11/what-if-microsoft-google-corel-and-others-had-their-patents-voided/
IBM hopes to patent 'dealing with chaos'
,----[ Quote ]
| IBM wants to patent a means of responding to hurricanes, earthquakes, tidal
| waves, solar flares, flooding, terrorism, war, pandemics, and other
| situations where you would hope companies aren't worried about patents.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/10/ibm_chaos_patent/
,----[ Quote ]
| "Working behind the scenes to orchestrate "independent" praise of our
| technology, and damnation of the enemy's, is a key evangelism function during
| the Slog. "Independent" analyst's report should be issued, praising your
| technology and damning the competitors (or ignoring them). "Independent"
| consultants should write columns and articles, give conference presentations
| and moderate stacked panels, all on our behalf (and setting them up as
| experts in the new technology, available for just $200/hour). "Independent"
| academic sources should be cultivated and quoted (and research money
| granted). "Independent" courseware providers should start profiting from
| their early involvement in our technology. Every possible source of leverage
| should be sought and turned to our advantage."
`----
--- Microsoft, internal document
http://www.groklaw.net/pdf/Comes-3096.pdf
Related:
Against Intellectual Monopoly
,----[ Quote ]
| Many – including myself - believe that a better description of copyright and
| patents is to call them “intellectual monopolies”, since they are just that:
| state-granted monopolies that give the power to exclude others from using
| certain kinds of ideas.
|
| Once you move away from the loaded “intellectual property”, you can examine
| objectively whether such intellectual monopolies are, in fact, beneficial for
| society – both in terms of those holding them, and those who must operate
| with them.
`----
http://www.computerworlduk.com/toolbox/open-source/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=427&blogid=14
Tech Fusion Outline: Organising the World's Knowledge.
,----[ Quote ]
| # Dissolving WIPO - The World Intellectual Property Organisation needs to be
| shut down - or its job transformed into one which *protects* sovereign
| nations from the interference of intellectual "property" hoarding. I consider
| the concept of "Intellectual Property" to be "slavery". even the name says
| so! Intellectual. Property. Intelligence. Owned. Information. Enslaved. It's
| got to stop. We're not a bunch of savages. any more.
|
| # Dissolution of Patents. See above. Also: see the documentary "The
| Corporation". Even the reasons why the Patent system was created is flawed:
| hoarding of information so that the inventor can benefit from it is so
| completely against the grain of an enlightened world that it hardly needs
| mentioning - but there will be people reading this who will genuinely
| believe - just like the Victorians did about their life-long human captives -
| that Slavery is perfectly acceptable because "everyone does it".
|
| # Banning of Articles of Incorporation with "profit" as the main focus. This
| is absolutely essential. There are plenty of alternative Articles of
| Incorporation where profits are made, but not at the expense of world
| resources. Companies House has a boilerplate designed for social clubs.
`----
http://www.advogato.org/article/964.html
|
|