Comments on: Obama to Fund Entrepreneurs in Latin America http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2009/04/19/obama-to-fund-entrepreneurs-in-latin-america/id=2688/ Patents, Software Patents, Patent Applications & Patent Law Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:54:32 +0000 hourly 1 By: Gene Quinn http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2009/04/19/obama-to-fund-entrepreneurs-in-latin-america/id=2688/#comment-2130 Gene Quinn Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:16:49 +0000 http://www.ipwatchdog.com/?p=2688#comment-2130 Bob- You say: "What’s missing is comprehensive analysis or viable alternative solutions." I give comprehensive analysis and viable alternatives through my blog. I am not the sort who just points to problems, but I must admit, there are far better ways to help US taxpayers than sending money to Latin America to fund innovation and entrepreneurship. So my alternative solution here is to set up a fund to spur innovation in the US rather than spurring innovation in other countries. You say: "As an inventor I’ve found it very easy to get my patents issued..." I find this difficult to believe given that it is not the experience of attorneys, clients, corporations or inventors. Perhaps if you are seeking extraordinarily narrow patents this could be the case. The Patent Office is increasingly finding is desirable to issue patents that are largely useless because they cover nonsensical inventions or are so narrow as to be unhelpful. You say: "I frequently find patents to be an obstacle to building a company." There is no evidence to support this position in literature or history. I would love to hear you try and suppor this. You say: "My suggestion is that issuing more licenses to patent attorneys, thereby reducing their hourly rates, might be the most effective way to improve the benefits of patents to business." I am not against issuing more licenses to patent attorneys. There is plenty of work to go around. But even if the PTO issued a license to everyone who applied and even to those who fail the patent bar exam there would not be much of an increase in the number of patent attorneys given attrition and the fact that only several thousand people a year seek to become patent attorneys or agents. Also, if you think that forcing hourly rates down would result in adequate protection then I would recommend that you first try the numerous patent attorneys and agents online who advertise that they can prepare and file patent application for between $1,400 to $2,800. You will soon find out that racing to the low cost provider is not a business solution when one is attempting to protect innovation. I do appreciate your comments and would love to hear more thoughts. It is always good to have a contrary viewpoint. -Gene Bob-

You say: “What’s missing is comprehensive analysis or viable alternative solutions.”

I give comprehensive analysis and viable alternatives through my blog. I am not the sort who just points to problems, but I must admit, there are far better ways to help US taxpayers than sending money to Latin America to fund innovation and entrepreneurship. So my alternative solution here is to set up a fund to spur innovation in the US rather than spurring innovation in other countries.

You say: “As an inventor I’ve found it very easy to get my patents issued…”

I find this difficult to believe given that it is not the experience of attorneys, clients, corporations or inventors. Perhaps if you are seeking extraordinarily narrow patents this could be the case. The Patent Office is increasingly finding is desirable to issue patents that are largely useless because they cover nonsensical inventions or are so narrow as to be unhelpful.

You say: “I frequently find patents to be an obstacle to building a company.”

There is no evidence to support this position in literature or history. I would love to hear you try and suppor this.

You say: “My suggestion is that issuing more licenses to patent attorneys, thereby reducing their hourly rates, might be the most effective way to improve the benefits of patents to business.”

I am not against issuing more licenses to patent attorneys. There is plenty of work to go around. But even if the PTO issued a license to everyone who applied and even to those who fail the patent bar exam there would not be much of an increase in the number of patent attorneys given attrition and the fact that only several thousand people a year seek to become patent attorneys or agents.

Also, if you think that forcing hourly rates down would result in adequate protection then I would recommend that you first try the numerous patent attorneys and agents online who advertise that they can prepare and file patent application for between $1,400 to $2,800. You will soon find out that racing to the low cost provider is not a business solution when one is attempting to protect innovation.

I do appreciate your comments and would love to hear more thoughts. It is always good to have a contrary viewpoint.

-Gene

]]> By: Bob http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2009/04/19/obama-to-fund-entrepreneurs-in-latin-america/id=2688/#comment-2129 Bob Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:01:21 +0000 http://www.ipwatchdog.com/?p=2688#comment-2129 It's clear from your comments that you're anxious, like all of us, to see an improvement in the world economy, and in your own. What's missing is comprehensive analysis or viable alternative solutions. For example, tried and true methods of extracting the global economy from deep recession are not so readily available for analysis. We struggled to leave our last depression behind. It appears that government spending replaced the absent consumer and industry spending, and resulted in an exuberant business cycle that stands as an example of success. You have confused an ideological objective to reduce debt with an economic objective of increasing GDP growth. Today's spending of tax revenues to restore financial activity become undesirable and inflationary the moment the economy is growing, and should be throttled at that point. As for government debt, it is generally undesirable because, in times like we are currently experiencing, federal debt reduces federal spending necessary to restore growth in the economy. One other point that bears greater analysis is the benefit to industry of change in the patent office. As an inventor I've found it very easy to get my patents issued, and I've found my patents to afford adequate protection to successful companies. The cost of the attorneys involved was a much greater concern for the viability of my business. In addition, I frequently find patents to be an obstacle to building a company. A valuable analysis might be the number of jobs that are not created due to patents, as a ratio of those that are created. This, and a careful analysis of the cost of patenting, might point to the changes that will have the greatest impact on society and business. My suggestion is that issuing more licenses to patent attorneys, thereby reducing their hourly rates, might be the most effective way to improve the benefits of patents to business. It’s clear from your comments that you’re anxious, like all of us, to see an improvement in the world economy, and in your own. What’s missing is comprehensive analysis or viable alternative solutions. For example, tried and true methods of extracting the global economy from deep recession are not so readily available for analysis. We struggled to leave our last depression behind. It appears that government spending replaced the absent consumer and industry spending, and resulted in an exuberant business cycle that stands as an example of success. You have confused an ideological objective to reduce debt with an economic objective of increasing GDP growth. Today’s spending of tax revenues to restore financial activity become undesirable and inflationary the moment the economy is growing, and should be throttled at that point. As for government debt, it is generally undesirable because, in times like we are currently experiencing, federal debt reduces federal spending necessary to restore growth in the economy. One other point that bears greater analysis is the benefit to industry of change in the patent office. As an inventor I’ve found it very easy to get my patents issued, and I’ve found my patents to afford adequate protection to successful companies. The cost of the attorneys involved was a much greater concern for the viability of my business. In addition, I frequently find patents to be an obstacle to building a company. A valuable analysis might be the number of jobs that are not created due to patents, as a ratio of those that are created. This, and a careful analysis of the cost of patenting, might point to the changes that will have the greatest impact on society and business. My suggestion is that issuing more licenses to patent attorneys, thereby reducing their hourly rates, might be the most effective way to improve the benefits of patents to business.

]]> By: moe http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2009/04/19/obama-to-fund-entrepreneurs-in-latin-america/id=2688/#comment-2118 moe Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:42:24 +0000 http://www.ipwatchdog.com/?p=2688#comment-2118 right again, gene right again, gene

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