[Date Index]
[Thread Index]

[Date Prev] bullet [Date Next] bullet [Thread Prev] bullet [Thread Next]
bullet
Internet Access to U.S. Patents
bullet bullet bullet bullet

Secretary Brown:

I would like to add my voice to those who support free access to U.S. Patents on the Internet. Carl Malamud at town.hall.org has been providing searchable access to the full text of all 1994 US patents. He has been forced by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to shut down on the argument that his services undermines the ability to maintain a viable market for patent documents.

As an inventor it has been my understanding that I have a entered into an agreement with the PTO to disclose fully and accurately the content of my inventions in exchange for intelectual property rights for a period of 17 years. Nowhere I was asked to support a policy of exclusivity of access to such information to anyone for the purpose of profiteering. On the contrary, it is my understanding that the founders of the constitution intended the dissemination of new ideas to be central to the establishment of a system of intelectual property protection. What better way to disseminate ideas than direct, electronic access to the full text of ALL U.S. Patents ?

It may be argued that not just the independent inventor, high school student, or corporate scientist in America will benefit from having access to the full text of U.S. patents through the INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY vice-president Gore has championed so well, but that also our foreing competitors will benefit. It can also be argued that:

1. Having such access available to our competitors around the world will strenghten our own patent protection policy because no barriers will exists to direct, searchable efforts to prior-art checks of already protected intelectual properties. NO EXCUSES.

2. R&D in the fight against all diseases -cancer, arthritis, heart disease - would be enhanced by free access to US patent texts by the corporate inventor without intermediaries (interpreters) so called "information brokers", and by the graduate student who can't affort to pay broker's fees.

3. It will force information brokers to lend a more useful service than just serving as gate-keepers of PUBLIC information paid for by U.S. taxpayers like myself. For example, they could use their abilities to ensure completeness of prior-art searches in much the same way that a Notary Public ensures the authenticity of a signature in a document without limiting the ability to create such documents.

I urge you Secretary Brown to upheld the constitution and to make every effort to provide inventors like me, corporate scientists, graduate students and the young minds of our country with the information they need to create a better future for ourselves. Thanks.

Sincerely,


-----------------------------------------------
Mario Blanco, PhD. Materials and Process Simulation Center Beckman Institute 139-74, Caltech Pasadena, CA 91125 e-mail: mario@wag.caltech.edu fax: (818) 585-0918
-----------------------------------------------

bullet
[Date Prev] bullet [Date Next] bullet [Thread Prev] bullet [Thread Next]
bullet