Patent process goes high-tech

Patent process goes high-tech
By Staff
Mar 5, 2007
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_21267500.shtml

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is going to try to findout if the Internet can help it do a better job reviewing patentapplications. Under a pilot project to begin this spring, theoffice will post applications and seek public comment, theWashington Post said Monday. The commentary cream theoreticallywill rise to the top through a community rating system. "Forthe first time in history, it allows the patent-office examinersto open up their cubicles and get access to a whole world oftechnical experts," said IBM executive David J. Kappos. The genesis of the project was a meeting between IBM, the nation'stop patent generator, and Beth Noveck, a New York Law Schoolprofessor who said it will trigger "the first major change toour patent examination system since the 19th century." A record332,000 applications were reviewed last year by the agency's4,000 examiners, headquartered in Alexandria, Va. Patent Officespokeswoman Brigid Quinn said the program will kick off withabout 250 applications from the software sector. The reviewvolunteers already include Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett-Packard,Oracle and IBM. Additional applicants will be allowed.