[Stoves] Patents

[Crispin Pemberton-Pigott]

I completely agree, Richard. The problem is how to make that dissemination take place. For ideas whose time has come there is no problem, maybe. 

Many a better mousetrap can be found at the end of an untrampled lane of flowers and weeds. Sometimes no one beats a path to door.

Patents are a legitimate commercialisation tool, even invalid ones. The common understanding of them is so off-base that requires a deeper conversation than this to delineate when they are inappropriate. 

Further, a design can be copyrighted instead of patented. There are some common law protections of copyright that are largely unknown. 

Lastly an invention can only legitimately be patented by its original inventor, not someone who steals the idea and rushes to the patent office. They are overturned / overturnable if the original inventor kept lab notes and had them read and signed occasionally by a knowledgeable person. The notes form the basis for a refusal to someone else' claims of invention. Also simultaneous invention by two parties leads to shared royalties. Witness the Rubic's Cube. 

Regards
Crispin
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Stanley <rstanley at legacyfound.org>
Sender: stoves-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 09:13:17 
To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves<stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Reply-To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves
	<stoves at lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: Re: [Stoves] Patents

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