(fwd) OT: up2date patent?

[Lee]

On Wednesday 04 June 2003 02:39 am, Roger Oberholtzer wrote:
> On Tue, 3 Jun 2003 20:26:29 -0400
>
> Kurt Wall <kwall at kurtwerks.com> wrote:
> > Well, the existence of prior art had seems to matter to the USPTO
> > anymore.
>
> This is very true. Not only that, they don't seem to see if the 'new' thing
> to be patented is already patented, but using different words to describe
> the same thing. We have experienced this in the US in relation to one of
> our measurement parameters.
>
> It used to be common belief that you could not patent something if the
> details were previously given out. So, you had to patent it before you
> could tell the world about it. This is no longer the case. The reason for
> this was to prevent the following (which is no longer prevented and now
> occurs):
>
> >Does this mean that I can patent fire and the wheel. If so, you guys with 
the wheel mice better look out or I'll send you an official looking nasty 
letter threatening to sue you.