[mythtv-users] "Odometer" Threads

[Brian Wood]

David Brodbeck wrote:
> On Feb 6, 2008, at 12:46 PM, Brian Wood wrote:
>> I just can't see how that patent could possibly have been granted.  
>> There
>> is so much prior art it seems impossible to me.
>>
>> But then again, patents are granted by the government.
> 
> And frankly the patent office doesn't have the funding or technical  
> expertise to work it out.  This is probably because the business lobby  
> wants it that way; having a weak patent office is in their interests.   
> I suspect the patent office just issues what's requested and figures  
> the legal system will overturn the patent if there really is prior art.

Plus they can't hire the brightest people. Remember that famous incident 
  in the 19th century when a fellow wanted to resign because everything 
had already been invented.

The whole idea, to encourage and reward individual inventors, has been 
history for a long time.

But at least I can now do patent searches from my home computer, it used 
to be a major operation.

beww


beww