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1500 questions
30
votes
13 answers

Prior art for US patent application 20140196008 'IMMUTABLE OBJECT TYPES'

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2014/0196008.html At least some embodiments described herein relate to a language extension that advances safety in system programming. In accordance with the language extension, an entire type may be declared to…
guest
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29
votes
8 answers

Should I patent my idea before posting it on the internet?

Should I patent my idea before posting it on public internet forums? Could someone who sees my post beat me to it?
Just Curious
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29
votes
7 answers

Is it worth patenting an algorithm if I don't have the money to defend against infringements?

I have some algorithms that I am considering patenting, but I wonder whether I should just trust that rivals won't simply read the patent papers and copy my ideas. While I hope that my inventions will soon improve my financial circumstances, I…
DonkeyBoy
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27
votes
5 answers

What can I do about an infringer if I'm a small independent inventor?

I'm a small-scale independent inventor with few resources and have a patent that I believe is being infringed by a large company. I fear that if I approach the company on my own, I will have little leverage in negotiating with them, and I lack the…
orome
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26
votes
16 answers

Prior art request for WO2014027990 "Performance tests in a continuous deployment pipeline"

I would like help finding prior art for WO2014027990 A1, please. The patent "Performance tests in a continuous deployment pipeline" by some employees of HP (filed Aug 13 2012, published Feb 20, 2014) describes how to establish automated performance…
Steve Smith
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25
votes
2 answers

Can software or a block of code under the GPL or a similar license be patented?

Regarding software, can an application or block of code licensed under the GPL (pre version 3), or a similar license requiring the source to be made available under the terms of the license after redistribution or modification, be patented?
RolandiXor
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25
votes
7 answers

Photography lighting (Amazon) - Issued Patent - PRIOR ART REQUEST

sorry to ask this but unless I've missed something fundamental in that massively overly complicated and distracting description of a setup that, with probably small adjustments in lighting positions, is already used in photographic studios all over…
user8564
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25
votes
8 answers

How can I perform a global patent search for free?

I'm aware of several resources for searching the national or regional (e.g. EU) patent databases, but have found no tool for searching patents in all (or even several) countries at the same time. Is there a free resource for searching patents…
orome
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23
votes
2 answers

Which patents were involved in Apple v. Samsung?

Can someone list which patents Apple sued Samsung over? I believe one of them was rounded corners on a mobile device. I could be wrong though, but if I am correct about that one, then any mobile device you can possibly think of is prior art.
Antony
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22
votes
4 answers

What does "patent pending" mean?

After reading an answer to this question, I realized how often I see the term used in marketing. What kind of security level does a pending patent give you? Why do so many companies use them? And what level of credibility do they offer? If your…
Jerzmacow
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22
votes
2 answers

Can we not invalidate older patents? - i.e. World Inc vs Blizzard Entertainment

I saw down below where someone was asking how long we have to invalidate or send in a submission of a patent up to 6 months after it is published. Does that mean that 3rd parties can not go back and invalidate patents from years ago that never…
geeksweep
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20
votes
4 answers

Can a granted patent be deeded to the public?

Please note, I'm not speaking in the context of a land patent, I just could not think of a better word than deed. Let's say that: I have a concrete implementation of something that can be patented I have the financial and legal resources to likely…
Tim Post
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19
votes
4 answers

Are US software patents enforceable in the UK?

The UK Patent Act 1977 clearly states that It is hereby declared that the following (among other things) are not inventions for the purposes of this Act, that is to say, anything which consists of ... a program for a computer Similar wording can…
Alex Chamberlain
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19
votes
4 answers

Is there a way to achieve protections similar to "Copyleft" under the patent system?

I have heard about "Copyleft" and was wondering if there is an equivalent for works which fall under Patent law rather than Copyright law. Specifically, is there a way I ensure that someone cannot patent an idea without filing for a patent myself?
Dale
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18
votes
2 answers

How to make an invention un-patentable easily?

It appears that the USPTO no longer does defensive publications, but instead you're supposed to abandon a patent application. But that will still incur filing fees, etc. I figure an obscure blog post is not likely to be seen by the patent…
retracile
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