On Fri, 07 Jan 2000 17:03:59 +0100, famrom@xxxxxxxxxxx (Guillermo S. Romero / Familia Romero) said: >>A question about patents. Is putting something on the web enough to >>prevent someone patenting it, or could someone download my plug-in and >>then patent the algorithm? >Your plugin is prior art so patents can not be taken. But web is still a >weird place, so you will have to convice lawyers that it is your and since >day X. >What I would do is to register your plugin (copyright office) or get an >official stamp (notary? I hope that is the correct word for the guy who does >that). In other words, an official doc that says that since day X your app >exists, and is yours. The best thing I can think of is to have a copy of the source code notarized and stored in a safe-deposit box. You could mail it to yourself, but a notarization is probably stronger legally (because the notary can testify). A copyright registration might not be sufficient since you're not required to deposit the full source code for a TX Unpub registration. It would provide evidence of prior art, at least; whether it would be sufficient, I can't say. Ask a patent lawyer. Kelly
