On Wed, 6 Oct 2004, Randy Presuhn wrote: > Hi - > > > From: "Scott W Brim" <sbrim@xxxxxxxxx> > > To: <ietf@xxxxxxxx> > > Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 4:54 AM > > Subject: Re: Shuffle those deck chairs! > ... > > The US patent office is overwhelmed, and acting like it's under a DoS > > attack. I agree it would be great if we all offered technical > > assistance, but not as the IETF. If needed we could create some other > > organization. Let the IETF have a clear focus. > ... > > I've heard claims that the patent office will be switching to a European-style > "first-to-file" process, rather than the current "first-to-invent". Would this > make matters better or worse? It makes things much worse: No more will you be able to challenge a patent based on the premise of prior art. I'm not sure what the legislative schedule is for the change, but grandfather/transititional legislation has already been passed: An exception has been put into place so that you really did invent the technology, you can't be prevented from using it. -- Av8 Internet Prepared to pay a premium for better service? www.av8.net faster, more reliable, better service 617 344 9000 _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www1.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf