Hiss in new build

[jmaf]

Whenever I see Americans arguing over the fragility and "failures" of their patent system(not specifically on this thread, but it's a trend all over the place it seems), it seems to me(and to others around the world I guess) like two lords who just had a feast arguing and complaining about hunger

[R.G.]

Whenever I see Americans arguing over the fragility and "failures" of their patent system(not specifically on this thread, but it's a trend all over the place it seems), it seems to me(and to others around the world I guess) like two lords who just had a feast arguing and complaining about hunger

Who's arguing? The patent system in the USA is worthless to any party without $100K to $1M available to pay in legal fees to protect a patent. Effectively, it does not exist for a lone inventor. And patents are used primarily as trading chits between large companies.

It's this aspect of the patent system in the USA that makes me laugh when someone proclaims proudly about their patent, or worse, patent application. It is a public admission that they do not understand how the patent system works. And that was the source of my laughter in this case.

But back to the patent system. Who's feasting? I don't understand that comment at all. I strongly suspect that any comment about the USA around the world is met with exactly the same ill feeling regardless of the actual content of the comment.

[jmaf]

Who's arguing? The patent system in the USA is worthless to any party without $100K to $1M available to pay in legal fees to protect a patent. Effectively, it does not exist for a lone inventor. And patents are used primarily as trading chits between large companies.

So who's feasting? I don't understand that comment at all.

Your patent system is 100 years ahead of any other I've seen around the world. I know several inventors who've created amazing things in other countries and who live anonymously serving cheap repairs and living off small projects, whereas we see American patents upheld and protected. Now I don't know if you need good lawyers or big money to do that, all I know is your system works better than mine by 100 years. Also I didn't say you were complaining(arguing), it was a comment on Americans complaining about their patent system in general(I read Reddit, Digg, Slashdot and tons of technical-inclinded discussions about your patent system and there seems to be overall discontentment).

Here is a story from my home town, the Caller ID BINA case: Caller ID - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I knew some folks loosely related to that case in the local university and telco, but not the inventor himself.

[Chuck H]

I strongly suspect that any comment about the USA around the world is met with exactly the same ill feeling regardless of the actual content of the comment.

Not to drag this further off topic... So our patent system is weak. And the royal family doesn't look like a bunch of horsey faced inbreds.

The attitude (especially on the other side of the pond) seems to be that we're a bunch of arrogant cowboys that border on incompetent. BUT that's fine with me. What isn't fine with me is when immigrants that live here complain about America and Americans!?! Why the hell are they wasting their time here then. Go back where you came from and gripe all you want.

[riz]

Spoken like a true cowboy, Chuck.

[jmaf]

Here's me enforcing a patent back in Texas, 1989.

[R.G.]

Atta'boy!

[Chuck H]

I think we're regressing...???

In Thailand they cane you for vandalism... A bit of a backward concept, eh? In China couples are limited on the number of children they can have... Point is that there are compromises wherever you go. Our capitalist system really does work for the most part (for better or worse, depending) and it's as good a deal as anyone can ask for. Hell, at least we get to vote and pretend we have a say in how it all turns out

[überfuzz]

...What isn't fine with me is when immigrants that live here complain about America and Americans!?! Why the hell are they wasting their time here then. Go back where you came from and gripe all you want.

Off topic
Americans - Indians..? Silly old me living in an old country, thinking you folks are all more or less immigrants. So don't you dare complain.

[Chuck H]

American indians come from India. I think you mean native Americans? To be clear I do think they got a raw deal. There's even some Cherokee in my blood but the brass tacks are that they are conquered people. Anyone that conquers America can also gripe with impunity.

[überfuzz]

Ho ho chief! My grandpa did some genealogy and found out that some ancestor to us killed a king called Olof II den helige back in 1030, supposedly. I'm not sure about that but we're in the church records back to the thirteenth century. The churce burnt to ashes, the infidels, popularly called Vikings, living here was somewhat violent, every no and then...

Nowadays all the violence are projected through Rock'n'roll, I guess.

[jmaf]

Anyone that conquers America can also gripe with impunity.

- British Petroleum approves this message

[Chuck H]

Yes good one.