[MW Forums]

IT vendor executives say the U.S. patent system needs to be changed. more

[jmincey]

I'm glad to hear voices raised on this point. The patent system was designed to protect and encourage innovation, but its abuse is having the opposite effect.

[HumanJHawkins]

Quote:

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IT vendor executives say the U.S. patent system needs to be changed.
<a href="/news/2007/08/03/patent/index.php">[more]</a>

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Unfortunately, what needs to happen to really allow innovators succeed, is to reduce the cost of getting a patent into the $100 +/- range.
Most people have good and innovative ideas, and many can even make a working prototype of them. But it is just too much of a gamble for most people to hire a lawyer and incur all the expenses of getting a patent, when it may go bust for so many different reasons.
Well... This ain't going to happen, but it is what small time inventors need.

[Schneb]

I agree with the above posts. I also want to add, no patent squatting!! That is, unless you actually USE the patent, you LOSE it! I had a friend who developed something that cost a few dollars to replace a huge medical box mechanism that cost thousands. He could not patent it because the manufacturers of the big box already held the patent and was sitting on it to sell the big box. Something is woefully wrong there.