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RE: Patents Running Amok! - 9/13/2008 2:34:02 PM
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Bettawrekonize
Posts: 1256
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More examples of a broken system. So what now, Linux can no longer use those keys (or it has to use them for a different purpose)?
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RE: Patents Running Amok! - 9/13/2008 7:29:32 PM
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Bettawrekonize
Posts: 1256
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This link was linked to your original link.
quote:
A method for inducing cats to exercise consists of directing a beam of invisible light produced by a hand-held laser apparatus onto the floor or wall or other opaque surface in the vicinity of the cat, then moving the laser so as to cause the bright pattern of light to move in an irregular way fascinating to cats, and to any other animal with a chase instinct.
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Although particularly suited to amusing and exercising cats, the method of the present invention can be applied to other domestic pets, for instance dogs, ferrets, and any other animals with the chase instinct.
Patent #5,443,036
You've got to be kidding me. When I was younger (many years ago), I had a friend who had a cat and I used to have that cat chase a laser pointer (I've also done this to little puppies as well, but it's more interesting with cats). The cat would basically stand very still next to the laser pointer, put his hand very close to it, wait for a few second, and quickly try to grab the laser light when the cat thought the laser light wasn't paying attention. Then I'd turn off the laser light, the cat would look in his paws to see if he caught anything, see that he caught nothing, and he would start going crazy. I would continue to do this and then I'd have the laser light shine on the cat's hand the next time he tried to grab it and it drove the cat nuts. He would chase the laser pointer all over the place, try to shake it off of him when I shined it on him (ie: on his hand or arm), try to claw it, etc... Eventually he just got scared of the little thing and ran away from it as fast as he can. I didn't really do it to help the cat exercise, I just thought it was funny. Do I have to pay royalties now? Did I violate a patent law (oh no, I think the feds are knocking at my door now  )? I had no idea that such an idea was under patent, the word patent didn't even cross my mind. It seems like anything you do now a days is somehow someone's intellectual property. More examples of patent abuse.
< Message edited by Bettawrekonize -- 9/13/2008 7:38:25 PM >
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RE: Patents Running Amok! - 9/15/2008 6:32:53 AM
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PolarBear
Posts: 449
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: San Antonio
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My favorite is the patent for swinging sideways. Yes it really exists, I'm too lazy to find the link.
Patents are a major problem for small innovators (the large ones can have patent agreements with everyone else), which is really contrary to the original goal of the patent system. However, sometimes reaction is taken a little too far. People have predicted for years that patents would destroy open source software, but I don't see that happening on a mass scale.
Microsoft, for example, has never launched an aggressive patent lawsuit. (I hate MS as much as anyone, but I give them kudos for this.) If they did, they would get tons of bad-will that they can't really afford.
The real problem is patent trolls -- small law firms that snap up patents, produce nothing, and have nothing to lose by making enemies of the whole world. That is why I believe the patent system should be reformed such that in order to enforce a patent, you have to be using it directly in a profit-seeking venture.
I also believe all software patents should be null and void, but I'll take what I can get.
_____________________________
Tip of the day: "You" has three letters, not one. It is spelled Y-O-U.
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RE: Patents Running Amok! - 9/15/2008 7:25:09 PM
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Bettawrekonize
Posts: 1256
Joined: 4/17/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PolarBear
My favorite is the patent for swinging sideways. Yes it really exists, I'm too lazy to find the link.
I googled and found it.
quote:
A five-year-old kid from Minnesota has patented a way of swinging on a child's swing.
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"A new method of swinging on a swing would therefore represent an advance of great significance and value," it reads. Olson's alternative is to pull on one chain at a time, so the swing moves towards the side being pulled.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2178.html
ROFLOL. When I was a little kid, I used to do this sometimes. I didn't think such an idea was patentable (heck, I didn't even know what a patent is). If I were smart enough, perhaps I could have gotten a patent on the idea and became rich. The patent system (and our government) has turned into one big ridiculous joke after another (a joke that ends up having a huge negative impact on society. Maybe not regarding this particular patent in specific, but the fact that our system is so broken with respect to this patent supports the overall broken nature of our system with respect to patents and it supports the overall broken nature of our system in general. It's this broken nature of our system that has a huge negative impact on society). Just about everything you do now a days is somehow someone's intellectual property.
< Message edited by Bettawrekonize -- 9/15/2008 7:34:41 PM >
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