Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] O/T Patent applications

I am inclined to fully agree with your rant, Joe.

I feel the patent system is unfair to small business inventors.

If the patented Idea turns out to have no value then the costs
were wasted.

If the idea has value it will be challenged. Patent litigation
is notoriously long and expensive. Those guys don't work
much on percentage as ambulance chasers do.

So only the very rich have deep enough pockets to defend
the patent.

I think patents only serve to make very rich people richer.

Kind of like campaign financing.

I have been through considerable litigation on some of my patents. I am
involved in some now in fact. The consignees/
investors provide the deep pockets but I must tell you it is
a VERY unpleasant affair. I am sick of depositions and long
meetings with lawyers. It costs a fortune. Litigation in other
countries is worse. Infringement often comes from someone
in another country.

And yes, I am sad to say that I do not reap the financial
benefits of my patents. They did not exactly let me starve
either. I would have rather had 5% though.

It is a shame that the patent process often has little value to
the guy inventing in his garage.

Because guys in garages are the source of most technical innovation.

Leslie Watts
L M Watts Furniture
Tiger, Georgia USA
http://www.rabun.net/~leswatts/wattsfurniturewp.html