patents

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I sometimes wonder about the patent office. These paragraphs caught my
I while I was wondering around after reading "NewScientist.com" version
of a story about membraneless fuel cells using microstreams.
It seems that while the definition of a patent requires a working device
that Sony has patented a dream and successfully renewed it several times.
Mitchell James
www.InnerTransit.org

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www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18624944.600
Sony patent takes first step towards real-life Matrix
~ * 07 April 2005, "NewScientist.com"
...
Sony first submitted a patent application for the ultrasound method in
2000, which was granted in March 2003. Since then Sony has filed a
series of continuations, most recently in December 2004 (US 2004/267118).

Elizabeth Boukis, spokeswoman for Sony Electronics, says the work is
speculative. "There were not any experiments done," she says. "This
particular patent was a prophetic invention. It was based on an
inspiration that this may someday be the direction that technology will
take us."

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www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html#whatpat
~ A patent cannot be obtained upon a mere idea or suggestion. The patent
is granted upon the new machine, manufacture, etc., as has been said,
and not upon the idea or suggestion of the new machine. A complete
description of the actual machine or other subject matter for which a
patent is sought is required.
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