The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has responded to criticism that its system for approving patents is flawed. That reproof was reportedly leveled at the office last week by IBM Vice President for Intellectual Property and Standards Jim Stallings at a media event in New York City. At the event, Stallings told reporters that the Patent Office is being inundated with patent applications and it’s affecting the ability of examiners to adequately review applications, particularly their ability to review the history, or “prior art,” surrounding an invention.
If I recall correctly, something like 50% of all the patents which have been contested have been declared invalid. That tells me, at least half the time (probably more, as people do not like admitting they were wrong, and organizations tend to dislike this even more) the patent office issues patents by mistake. Given that context, this rebuttal read to me as something similar to, "IBM says we could do a good job if we had enough manpower, but they're wrong! We couldn't do a decent job if we had double enough manpower." Not exactly the sort of comment I'd want to make if I were running that show.
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Patent Office Says Critics Wrong, Complete Review Provided
Posted by: John P. Mello Jr. April 12, 2005 09:26 AMThe U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has responded to criticism that its system for approving patents is flawed. That reproof was reportedly leveled at the office last week by IBM Vice President for Intellectual Property and Standards Jim Stallings at a media event in New York City. At the event, Stallings told reporters that the Patent Office is being inundated with patent applications and it’s affecting the ability of examiners to adequately review applications, particularly their ability to review the history, or “prior art,” surrounding an invention.
Given that context, this rebuttal read to me as something similar to, "IBM says we could do a good job if we had enough manpower, but they're wrong! We couldn't do a decent job if we had double enough manpower." Not exactly the sort of comment I'd want to make if I were running that show.