Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #07686
To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Justin jaf60@student.canterbury.ac.nz
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 02:32:36 +1300
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: has the patent expired? (OT)
>Wrong. Circuits are IDEAS, and ideas are covered by patent law. DRAWINGS
>of circuits, circuit boards, etc. are covered by copyright.
>
>Briefly ...
>
>PATENTS apply to ideas, and expire after 15 years.
Almost, but not quite - patents apply to devices, mechanisms (and
various other synonyms :), not ideas. Ideas cannot be property in any
legal way that I know of. (Of course, the reality is that a good patent
lawyer can probably make anything sound enough like a mechanism to get a
patent granted - and even if it would fold under the first challenge, it
still does the job of scaring away competition.)
A circuit is more than an idea, and is clearly patentable.
Sorry for this OT crap.
7687 Mon, 15 Nov 1999 08:23:01 -0600 [alt-beam] Re: Elmos web site is online...REVIEW "Phillip A. Ryals" That means you're psychosomatic!
par
>I LINK......THEREFORE I AM!
>Elmo
Home