Articles For Week 4
Record Number of Patents Filed in 2007
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-21-voa64.cfm
Lisa Schlein writes about a record breaking 156,000 patent applications made in 2007 throughout the world, a 4.7% increase over the year before. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reports that this changing trend reflects strong growth in eastern countries. South Korea has grown 18.8%, China 38%. China has been expanding its patents very quickly. Over the last three years the growth has been 43%, 58%, and 38%.Dispite the news from the east, the USA remains the largest filer of patents with more than 52,000 patents filed last year, 1 third of worldwide patents. Most of the patents are for telecommunications, information technology and pharmaceuticals.
As patent laws grow more complex, and as technological innovation calls for more patents and makes them easier to file, the problems discussed in class are only exacerbated. The massive influx of new patents will take years to look through, indicating what we have been learning in class, the system needs to be reformed.
Microsoft's open-source patent threat still intact
http://www.news.com/8301-13580_3-9876090-39.html
Stephen Shankland writes that Microsoft is moving toi make it easier for open-source software to work with or even replace Microsoft products, however legal problems still exist with this. Microsoft has pleged not to sue open-source programmers for developing software that uses microsoft interfaces. While this seems like Microsoft is trying to reach out to the open-source movement which it publicly condemned before, that effort stops when it comes time to move into the world of commercial software. In the end, since Microsoft really can't sue Open Source programmers, the fact that its promised that it wont is a bit of a moot point.
Microsoft once accused Linux of breaking 235 patents. This relates to our class and the over patenting of our culture as far as software is concerned. From lecture we have learned that companies that have the resources to enforce patent law are the only ones who can really benefit and that creators are the ones who are most at risk.
Study: Patents Failing Small Business
http://www.nytimes.com/inc_com/inc1203607378089.html?ref=smallbusiness
Alexandra Zendrian writes on the key issue that "The nation's current patent system is a drain on entrepreneurship and small-business growth," as reported by a new study. The article includes several ideas for a better system. Those ideas include patent litigation, internal harmonization and shift to a first inventor to file approach as opposed to a first-to-invent system.
Once more refering to the truth of the matter that the system needs to be improved. The article mentions the Patent Reform Act and hopefully within the next few months it will become law.