Monday, February 06, 2006

U.S.Patent & Trademark Office Paid-Off?

It just sounds real fishy to me:

Separately, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is re-examining NTP's patents and has issued preliminary decisions striking down the patents at issue in the RIM case. The USPTO found new prior art, or evidence that somebody else had developed a method for sending wireless e-mail prior to NTP's patents. RIM expects the patent office to issue final actions on those patents against NTP. NTP can appeal those patents through the court system, including an appeals court that has already ruled in its favor.


Which RIM lobbyist paid which Bush Administration official to have the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office overturn one of the patents of NTP.

Patent law is complex and confusing and interesting from a public policy perspective - but it's not my deal. I'm into stopping government corruption. To that end, I want to know what prompted the USPTO to find new information regarding NTP's patents all of a sudden. Was a few tens of thousands of dollars donated to the GOP by someone affiliated with RIM?

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