Re: [Patents] US patent reform strategy inaugurated by myths & lies

["Nick Fleming" <Nick@bigfatpanda.fsnet.co.uk>]

> A more rational way to affect the effective length of patent data is
> to increase somewhat the maintenance fees of issued patents.  There
> was a nice study of German patents done a few years ago showing that
> most patents aren't renewed after about ten years or so (except for a
> few patents for valuable pharmaceuticals).  Increase the maintenance
> fees (for all patents, not just software patents), and I suspect 
> patents will be abandoned even earlier, without having to relying on
> artificial and ill-supported arguments that the life of a software
> invention (or a hardware invention or many other inventions) is or
> should be only 5 years.
> 
> Greg Aharonian

Tempting an idea as this is, I think
it has some pitfalls. Im sure several patent
offices will allow a  renewal within a certain 
amount of time,  as well as a transfer 
of patent rights.

The problem as I see it is that it leaves
the companies with deep pockets able to
carry on as usual, but makes it harder for
the smaller organisations to maintain an
increasingly expensive portfolio over time.
For example, dropping 10 patents from 10000
is less of a problem than dropping 
1 from 10.

I do like the idea of forcing companies
to decide which patents are worth keeping
though - but I can't see how it can be made
workable in practice.

Regards,

Nick Fleming.