Friday, October 19, 2007

A really useful patent

I am building some shelves to display my train models. Thinking to get some inspiration for style and color by looking at what others have done I googled for Wall Display Cases Model Railroad Wood. Big surprise, Google turned up a PATENT here.
This is patentable? US Constitution Article II section 8 says
"The Congress shall have the power .... to promote the progress of science and the useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right the their respective writings and discoveries"

Shelves for holding models promote science and the useful arts? And are not prior art? Or obvious to one skilled in the art?

How many other mickey mouse patents have been granted in the US? One such mickey mouse patent cost the Blackberry company (RIM) something like $675 mil just a few months ago. Right now the US patent system discourages research and development, 'cause we all know that no matter what we develop, somebody has a patent on it and will sue, soon as we start making money. Patents have been accomulating since 1789, and searching them is impossible, too many of 'em and they are written to confuse the reader rather than explain what the claims are.

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