Posted on 04/18/2007 8:08:51 AM PDT by N3WBI3
A pair of much-anticipated bills aimed at overhauling what high-tech companies decry as a broken U.S. patent system are scheduled to be introduced Wednesday in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Reps. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) and Lamar Smith (R-Texas) plan to unveil their respective bills, which are expected to be identical, at a press conference at the Capitol at 2:15 p.m. EST.
The chairmen of the intellectual property panels in their respective chambers have been vowing in recent months to prioritize efforts to make what high-tech companies argue are critical changes to the patent system. Earlier efforts at altering key facets of the system have been bogged down in disagreements among various industries and failed to go to votes.
The bills' language was still being finalized as of Tuesday evening, aides to the politicians said. Stay tuned to CNET News.com for coverage of their new proposal as more details emerge.
Ping
What would be great
1) Shorten the time for software patents to be effective. 5 years is long enough
2) Reign in stupid patents (like the ‘shopping cart’ fiasco) It should truly be unique, nonintuitive, and not just a combination or alteration of a previous concept.
While 20 years may be too long, 5 years isn’t long enough, if the patents are justified in the first place. That’s the bigger problem - the number of patents that are granted that don’t deserve it. But Stallman’s answer of doing away with all patents on software, or Linus Torvald’s quip to “go whack the guy”, are obviously far out in left field.
Perhaps you're right, if the number of patents were significantly reduced than maybe 10 years would be reasonable.
But Stallman’s answer of doing away with all patents on software
Is, your right, outrageous.
Linus Torvald’s quip to “go whack the guy”
Thanks for acknowledging he was joking! His position is don't bother looking too hard because there are so many crap patents out there almost every piece of code out there (of any substance) likely infringes on something. I certainly don't go out and look at patent fillings when I code.
Jokes about killing people are never funny. Especially if they’re made by a foreigner here on a green card who doens’t like our laws.
As to the foreigner there are few things more abhorrent in a nation descended from immigrants than a xenophobe. I suggest you tone it down. Linus came into the us legally, has never broken a US law and contributes to the economy and society at large. You're borerline racism not withstanding.
The proper context is a foreigner here questioning our laws, therefore recommending to "whack" anyone is far from humorous.
Xenophobia is a very ugly thing...
We just had a foreigner here on a green card kill over 30 people at a US university, and you say I am being xenophobic about questioning other foreigners who have recommended in writing to “whack” someone?
A university where probably hundreds of foreigners on green cards are working on cures for diseases and ways to be energy independent. The actions of one crazed individual does not make you xenophobia any less ugly.
The Lefts reaction to Timothy McVeigh? Well all white conservative people who believe in the second amendment must be evil and watched. You're reaction is no different. And your sorry attempt to tie your xenophobia to VT is *sick* considering you have held such a position for a long time.
No what’s obviously sick is you continuing to defend foreigners here on a green card who have recommended “whacking” people in light of what just happened in Virginia.
You obviously don't want to have a discussion you want a flame war. A comment which made by a man who legally came here, who happens to be against software patents, draws more ire than if it had been someone born here.
Linus has never broken a US law and has a sarcastic edge to his humor which has repeatedly appeared to be over your head. Your ability to snip post here to a few words and pick a fight is legendary and this is no different.
Xenophobia is a disgusting attitude that Bigots, Racist and in general Ignorant people cling to for dear life, you're in poor company. Unless you wish to discuss the topic of patent reform and not slander people because of their nation of birth please don't bother responding to me.
Facts aren’t slander, and these are facts:
- Linus Torvalds is a foreigner who is here on a green card
- He has recommended “whacking” people who sue over software patents
- You attack me instead of admitting the comments are inappropriate if not troubling in light of recent events
“Xenophobia is a disgusting attitude that Bigots, Racist and in general Ignorant people cling to for dear life, you’re in poor company. Unless you wish to discuss the topic of patent reform and not slander people because of their nation of birth please don’t bother responding to me.”
Im serious Im not going to feed you on this one..
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