From Bernard.Lang@inria.fr  Thu Dec 14 17:35:29 2000
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 18:35:29 +0100
From: Bernard Lang Bernard.Lang@inria.fr
Subject: [Patents] Re. Monopoly/publicity

On Thu, Dec 14, 2000 at 03:29:04PM +0000, Steve Probert wrote:
> > In a patent application, along with the technical description of a 
> > machine I think the inventor is obliged to include a structural drawing
> > of the invention. Am I wrong?
> 
> Yes you are wrong.  There is no obligation to include drawings (in the
> UK).
> 
> > When it comes to swpats, would it be meaningful to discuss why the
> > source code is not published with the patent description?
> 
> Source code is always published with a patent specification - when the
> applicant files source code that is.  If the amount is not too great,
> the source code is printed with the rest of the specification.  In many
> cases the program listing forms an appendix which is open to public
> inspection (at the Patent Office) but not printed, primarily because of
> the cost and bulk.

isn't it time for patent offices to start using numerical media
(unless they think it has no industrial value, of course :-)

Bernard

> > To publish the source would perhaps make (logical) sense in the
> > monopoly/publicity exchange (i.e. the patent system)?
> 
> Absolutely right.
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Steve Probert
> Deputy Director
> The Patent Office
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Patents maillist  -  Patents@liberte.aful.org
> http://liberte.aful.org/mailman/listinfo/patents

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