US Patents: Blow below the belt?

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Hubertus Hofkirchner

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Apr 7, 2006, 2:09:16 AM4/7/06

to Prediction Markets

Possibly a troublesome news item for our American colleagues: Forbes
reports that there is a US individual claiming patent rights on
"brokerless futures exchanges" and starting to sue everybody.

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/forbes/2006/0424/046.html

Does this mean that some of our most esteemed colleagues operate
infringing operations and will be shut down soon?

Regards from Europe (where business method patents are not allowed,
luckily),

Hubertus Hofkirchner
.

jheuristic

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Apr 13, 2006, 10:09:06 PM4/13/06

to Prediction Markets

hjh --

Yep, the USA is the "Land of Legal Opportunity." Come, join us, let sue
(and win!) restaurants for serving hot coffee!

The irony is that the US Patent System is intended to spur innovation
through protection, not destroy it, thru litigation.

This is yet another reason to open source, and get in the public
domain, these market mechanisms. You can't patent stuff in the public
domain.

Let's compete in open markets, brand, service, support and innovation,
not in the courtroom!