Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.
Re: solved before (Patents)
Author: Jim Lyon Posted: 9/22/2000; 10:40:38 AM Topic: Patents Msg #: 21639 (In response to 21631) Prev/Next: 21638 / 21640
I have never [researched patents for answers to problems], and I have never met a single person who has said or hinted they have done so.I have worked for a number of high-tech companies over the last 25 years. Each of the large ones, without fail, had a written policy that prohibited engineers from searching for patents. The reasons for the policy were generally unstated, but I learned in various conversations that:
- The adverse consequences of patent infringement are much less severe if the infringement is unknowning.
- Most engineers would search a patent database badly, missing patents on which they might infringe. The consequences of infringement in this case are as bad as if you knew about the patent. ("Should have known" == "knew" in some legal sense.)
Yet more evidence that the patent disclosure isn't really advancing the state of the art (at least in software), and perhaps shouldn't be rewarded as if it were.
This page was archived on 6/13/2001; 4:56:49 PM.
© Copyright 1998-2001 UserLand Software, Inc.