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"First to File" -- negative ramifications for free energy advancement
Last September, US Patent law changed from "first to invent" to "first to file", so now patent trolls can hunt down good IP that isn't patented, and take over ownership merely by filing a patent first. It has proven hugely demoralizing to the software industry. It could have similar effect in the energy industry, especially open source.
by Sterling D. Allan
Pure Energy Systems News
. . . Before, if an inventor chose not to get a patent on his technology, he wouldn't be able to protect it if someone else used it, but at least he wouldn't be facing the loss of his ability to use it, and a major financial penalty which could sink him -- for using his own idea.
This law was pushed through with little resistance, and with huge support from lawyer lobbies, who stand to gain hugely from all the litigation that can arise.
. . . Probably where we are most vulnerable presently is in "open source" projects, where ideas are discussed and developed openly in a community manner. A patent troll could grab a key part of that, file a patent on it, say nothing about it; then later pop it out when the technology enters the marketplace. . . .
Originally posted by yorkshirelad
Once the information is distributed on the internet across many countries NOBODY can patent it . . .
Originally posted by Beavers
What if... someone invents something in china, and someone in the US raises the patent?