[Patents] Re. Monopoly/publicity

[Bernard Lang Bernard.Lang@inria.fr]

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

-- 
         Non aux Brevets Logiciels  -  No to Software Patents
           SIGNEZ    http://petition.eurolinux.org/    SIGN

Bernard.Lang@inria.fr             ,_  /\o    \o/    Tel  +33 1 3963 5644
http://pauillac.inria.fr/~lang/  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  Fax  +33 1 3963 5469
            INRIA / B.P. 105 / 78153 Le Chesnay CEDEX / France
         Je n'exprime que mon opinion - I express only my opinion
                 CAGED BEHIND WINDOWS or FREE WITH LINUX