An anti-gravity space vehicle?

I don't think you have to worry about Carl Sagan posting anything on Usenet
or anywhere for that matter...

You're right DW, maybe Stephen Hawking would have been more apropos?

Its actually quite easy to patent anything you want. I'm required to
produce 1 patent per year in my work in RND. Some years I've not had
too many good ideas. However, a good attorney can make just about
any patent happen. I'd say it has MUCH more to do with the quality of
the attorney than the quality of the invension. Also, remember that
once you see the patent on-line, its been in the system for about 5
years (so it may be old).
The true test of the patent is not whether the attorney is able to get
it past the examiner, but whether it holds up in court if challenged.
If this guy really did patent a 2x4 (as the saying goes) then it up be
up to the courts to test it if, indeed, he tries to exercise his patent
to prevent someone else from doing something. I'm probaly a bit
negative but in my opinion, today, patents are really used as amo in IP
lawsuites. It's a game of which company can throw more patents at the
wall. I've consulted on both sides of such lawsuits and always find its
much more a game of trying to find a way to get rid of competitors than
actually protecting true IP, although not always.
BTW: If the patent holder loses in court just once, the patent is null
and void for everyone. Its a risk not all patent holders are actually
willing to take.
-Robert

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I'm probaly a bit
negative but in my opinion, today, patents are really used as amo in IP
lawsuites. It's a game of which company can throw more patents at the
wall. I've consulted on both sides of such lawsuits and always find its
much more a game of trying to find a way to get rid of competitors than
actually protecting true IP, although not always.

If you're not already familiar with it, you might find a case in the
Electronic Design industry interesting. Company B patented some work
that employee X developed. They sent a letter to company A
saying "you may be infringing on our patents." Company A checks their
records, finds out the material was developed by X when he worked for
them and files suit for IP theft. Company B is currently trying to
prove that the patents in question actually represent prior art and
therefore null and void.

We have strick reporting requirements here. We are required to save all
our "lab notes" (still never seen an actual lab ). We are required to
have peers sign our designs saying it was explained to them on this
date. We then forward that to our IP attorney. We are also required to
take IP law refresher training every 2 years (like a BFR! )

-Robert
Software Designer

Jay Honeck opined

AvWeb reported today that a patent has been issued for an anti-gravity space
ship. At first I thought it was a joke, but a little Googling came up with
this: (Sorry for the bizarre formatting):
************************************************* *
USPTO issues anti-gravity patent
US 6,960,975 titled "Space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary
vacuum state," has a first claim
lots snipped
"[Approving these kind of patents can] make it easier for scam artists to
con people if they can get patents for screwball ideas."

But despite their best efforts, mistakes are inevitable and patents may be
granted to unworkable ideas. Some 5,000 examiners must currently handle a
load of 350,000 applications per year.

If you haven't realized it yet, the Patent Office is severely broken. Almost
anything can be patented.


-ash
Cthulhu in 2005!
Why wait for nature?

Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??
-Robert

It gets you your moment of fame. Hmmmm, what will I patent???????




Robert M. Gary wrote:

Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??
-Robert

("The Visitor" wrote)
Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??

It gets you your moment of fame. Hmmmm, what will I patent???????


Interesting (aviation!) patent history - both pages, 1 & 2.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V23D12A2C
(Same link as below ...wait for it)

Popular Mechanics - Jay Leno.
An Unknown American Classic
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/sub_coll_leno/1302921.html?page=1&c=y

(From page 1)
[Morey received his first patent before 1800 for a rotating, steam-powered
cooking spit. It was one of the first patents ever issued in the United
States, and it was signed by George Washington. While his contemporary
inventors were being granted patents for handy things like "improvements in
windmills" (Joseph Pope, 1793) and "an improved way of making nails" (Jared
Byington, 1796), Morey took out a patent for a device that "raised water by
the use of wind."

Sadly, few people have ever heard of this guy.]


(From page 2)
[Morey was granted a patent for his "Gas or Vapor" engine in 1826. This time
it was signed by President John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, secretary of
state. That'd be like Bush and Powell signing a patent today.

Here's the best part: Samuel Morey had a strong premonition of the future
ramifications of his invention. "I see no reason," he wrote, "why it may not
be applied with the greatest advantage in drawing carriages on good roads
and railways and particularly for giving what seems to be much wanted
direction and velocity to balloons."]


Montblack

Interesting trivia.

But:

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:09:10 -0600, "Montblack"
wrote in
::

That'd be like Bush and Powell signing a patent today.

Actually, that would be like yesterday. Today it would be Rice not
Powell. :-)

Robert M. Gary opined

Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??
-Robert

One of the things that have been patented is the xor cursor. SOmething that had
been in use for years before the patent was issued. It was/is a pain and
expensive to break such stupidities.


-ash
Cthulhu in 2005!
Why wait for nature?