this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2024
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[–] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 6 points 18 hours ago

How about we work to change how the patent office operates? I think it's ridiculous you can get a patent for a thing that doesn't actually fucking exist, among many other really stupid things they approve or deny.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 103 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Tldr, to help fight patent trolls:

They're asking you to find evidence of preexisting technology -- referred to by patent lawyers as "prior art" -- that can kill off bad patents. This could be open-source documentation (including release notes), published standards or specifications, product manuals, articles, blogs, books, or any publicly available information.

They use this info to essentially undercut and invalidate the patent trolls' filing, killing their ability to file suit on that patent again.

There's also a contest with a $3000 prize for anyone who can help kill a current one on their plate.

https://patroll.unifiedpatents.com/contests/s3vQkRdTC6coNkjyx

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

It sounds like they need proof that this tech existed before 2013? I'm new to patents.. how does this evidence kill the patent?

[–] PriorityMotif@lemmy.world 12 points 18 hours ago

Can't file a patent on something that someone else already made.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago

Maybe crowdsource hitmen.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 59 points 2 days ago

Another way to help: If you have an idea that someone could possibly patent, no matter how stupid you think it is, you can publish a defensive technical disclosure on tdcommons for free https://www.tdcommons.org/

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 24 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Imagine a society where people who generate value have to waste their energy fighting these shit stains.

Congress wont do their jobs lol

[–] Odelay42@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Counterpoint: congress does their jobs exactly how their corporate owners want them to. Congress does not serve the best interests of the people.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 6 points 1 day ago

most normies aint ready for this reality, but you aint wrong.

if we take facts based approach, ie just look at what they do, not what they say, this conclusion is self-evident.

[–] JoYo@lemmy.ml 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

if you are known to look at patents then you become a target of patent trolls.

i advise good OPSEC.

[–] stinky@redlemmy.com 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

OPSEC "operational security" is protecting yourself from harm with safe practices, study and research, and technology

[–] JoYo@lemmy.ml 2 points 16 hours ago

OPSEC Savvy Ostrich approves.

[–] canadaduane@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I love this approach.

Nit: "If you can find prior art that describes such a system before June 13, 2013, you could be a winner." ... 2013 is a typo I'm guessing?

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago

That’s not the submission deadline, that’s the priority date for this particular patent, basically when it was first filed. If people can find other published information describing what the patent covers that predates the filing it would help invalidate the patent.

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago