The Great Patient Race :: essays research papers

When Gordon Gould was a graduate student at Columbia University in 1957, he sketched out the idea of a concentrated beam of light amplified in a gas-filled bedchamber and coined the term "laser" to describe it.But Gould waited to es phrase a observable on his discovery, believing incorrectly that a works prototype was necessary. Eventually, both other investigateers were awarded the basic clears instead.After a decades- yen healthy tussle, Gould finally reveled in victory when a federal court command that the homely employment it had approved did not anticipate the common uses of lasers. The U.S. visible and stylemark mightiness then granted Gould lucrative rights to the invention, in offend because as a graduate student he had his original research notebooks date-stamped and notarized.The legal precedent that was applied awards unmixeds to the individual who invented a concept first, and it has long been a preposterous feature of the U.S. patent system. This year, however, Congress is most to adopt a disputable proposal from Rep. Lamar Smith, a Texas republican, that would grant a patent to the first person to submit the paperwork--a standard thats common outside the unify States.The legislation curtly has become a flash point about everything thats right with the U.S. patent system--and everything thats wrong with it. Technology companies fighting expensive patent cases are hoping the note get out reduce litigation, while open-source advocates say it get out do nothing to hinder the rising tide of software package patents creation issued. some(prenominal) people tone that the banner will stigma only small(a) improvements, if any, to the quality of patents being awarded.Smiths story, called the Patent Reform dis score of 2005, also has worn the ire of independent inventors, who nonplus said it will unfairly appal anyone without a battalion of patent lawyers who can career to the Patent and Trademark Office in Ale xandria, Va. The rule probably would have kept Gould from being awarded the laser patents he eventually got."We really feel that theres a litigation lottery. People roll the die and hope that their make out comes up big."--David Kaefer music director of intellectual-property licensing, MicrosoftSmith declined, by means of a representative, to comment on the bill in front a hearing set for Thursday.The issue has taken on surplus urgency because of Smiths ambitious plan to navigate his bill quickly through the House by years end. Next weeks hearing will take place shortly after politicians have returned from their summer break. Meanwhile, a similar measure is being readied in the Senate by Utah Republican Orrin Hatch.The Great Patient Race essays research papers When Gordon Gould was a graduate student at Columbia University in 1957, he sketched out the concept of a concentrated beam of light amplified in a gas-filled chamber and coined the term "laser" to desc ribe it.But Gould waited to seek a patent on his discovery, believing incorrectly that a working prototype was necessary. Eventually, two other researchers were awarded the basic patents instead.After a decades-long legal tussle, Gould finally reveled in victory when a federal court ruled that the patent application it had approved did not anticipate the common uses of lasers. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office then granted Gould lucrative rights to the invention, in part because as a graduate student he had his original research notebooks date-stamped and notarized.The legal standard that was applied awards patents to the person who invented a concept first, and it has long been a unique feature of the U.S. patent system. This year, however, Congress is about to consider a controversial proposal from Rep. Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, that would grant a patent to the first person to submit the paperwork--a standard thats common outside the United States.The legislation suddenl y has become a flash point about everything thats right with the U.S. patent system--and everything thats wrong with it. Technology companies fighting expensive patent cases are hoping the bill will reduce litigation, while open-source advocates say it will do nothing to hinder the rising tide of software patents being issued. Many people feel that the measure will make only modest improvements, if any, to the quality of patents being awarded.Smiths bill, called the Patent Reform Act of 2005, also has drawn the ire of independent inventors, who have said it will unfairly hurt anyone without a battalion of patent lawyers who can race to the Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va. The rule probably would have kept Gould from being awarded the laser patents he eventually got."We really feel that theres a litigation lottery. People roll the die and hope that their number comes up big."--David Kaeferdirector of intellectual-property licensing, MicrosoftSmith declined, thro ugh a representative, to comment on the bill before a hearing set for Thursday.The issue has taken on additional urgency because of Smiths ambitious plan to navigate his bill quickly through the House by years end. Next weeks hearing will take place shortly after politicians have returned from their summer break. Meanwhile, a similar measure is being readied in the Senate by Utah Republican Orrin Hatch.