Patent Reform Act Proposes Sweeping Changes 336
Geccie writes "CNet is reporting that Senators Patrick Leahy and Orin Hatch have proposed sweeping changes in the patent system in the form of the Patent Reform Act of 2006. Key features are the ability to challenge (postgrant opposition) with the Senate version being somewhat broader and better than the house version." From the article: "Specifically, it would shift to a 'first to file' method of awarding patents, which is already used in most foreign countries, instead of the existing 'first to invent' standard, which has been criticized as complicated to prove. Such a change has already earned backing from Jon Dudas, chief of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office."
Time Machine (Score:2, Funny)
First to file questions (Score:2, Funny)
Or fire, the wheel, the screw, the inclined plane and the wing.
Hey, how about a patent on stealing the election through Diebold voting machines?