Patent goon squad: Difference between revisions
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[[Talk:Patent goon squad|Discuss here]] | [[Talk:Patent goon squad|Discuss here]] | ||
=Contentious Patent Applications= | |||
==Contentious Patent Applications== | |||
''It might be an idea to post important patents and allow people to add prior art that they might know about.'' | ''It might be an idea to post important patents and allow people to add prior art that they might know about.'' | ||
''Does anybody have suggestions for categories for synthetic biology patents? The patents that are posted now seem to fit into 'devices' and 'assembly'. If we could organize the patents into particular technology categories, we could then create an internal hierarchy of patents based on the breadth of the claims.'' | ''Does anybody have suggestions for categories for synthetic biology patents? The patents that are posted now seem to fit into 'devices' and 'assembly'. If we could organize the patents into particular technology categories, we could then create an internal hierarchy of patents based on the breadth of the claims.'' | ||
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*others? | *others? | ||
==Part libraries== | ===Part libraries=== | ||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+6277632#show US #6277632] | *[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+6277632#show US #6277632] | ||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+6495318#show US #6495318] | *[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+6495318#show US #6495318] | ||
==Assembly== | ===Assembly=== | ||
==Synthesis== | ===Synthesis=== | ||
This seems to be difficult one...we need to define some search terms to find what we are looking for. Actually, identifying useful search parameters for all categories is a good idea | This seems to be difficult one...we need to define some search terms to find what we are looking for. Actually, identifying useful search parameters for all categories is a good idea | ||
==Devices== | These are the patents over which [http://www.codondevices.com/news.aspx?id=202 Codon Devices Inc.] is suing [http://www.blueheronbio.com/company/press/mar15-07.html Blue Heron Biotechnology] (links are press releases from each respective company). | ||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+5459039#show US #5459039] | |||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+5556750#show US #5556750] | |||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+5679522#show US #5679522] | |||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+5702894#show US #5702894] | |||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+5750335#show US #5750335] | |||
===Devices=== | |||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+6774222#show Molecular Computing Elements Patent] | *[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+6774222#show Molecular Computing Elements Patent] | ||
*[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+2005/112615+A1#show Genetic Inverter Patent Application] | *[http://www.patentlens.net/patentlens/patsearch.cgi?patnum=US+2005/112615+A1#show Genetic Inverter Patent Application] | ||
===Prior Art (pre June 5,2003)=== | ====Prior Art (pre June 5,2003)==== | ||
[http://www.cs.plu.edu/pub/faculty/spillman/seniorprojarts/dna_digital.pdf Weiss & Knight 1999] - see fig 1, a biological inverter based on gene expression. | [http://www.cs.plu.edu/pub/faculty/spillman/seniorprojarts/dna_digital.pdf Weiss & Knight 1999] - see fig 1, a biological inverter based on gene expression. | ||
=Open | ==Open questions== | ||
''Please add/edit -- or answer!'' | ''Please add/edit -- or answer!'' | ||
*How hard is it to filter patents via existing search tools (e.g. into sub-fields)? | *How hard is it to filter patents via existing search tools (e.g. into sub-fields)? | ||
| Line 49: | Line 56: | ||
*Others? | *Others? | ||
=Background= | ==Background== | ||
* The US patent office [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401263.html sounds like it might be interested in this sort of community input (Washington Post)]. | * The US patent office [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401263.html sounds like it might be interested in this sort of community input (Washington Post)]. | ||
* [http://www.eff.org/patent/ EFF Patent Busting Project] - interesting parallel in the internet patent arena. EFF is digging up prior art on existing patents and then pursuing legal action for re-examination. | * [http://www.eff.org/patent/ EFF Patent Busting Project] - interesting parallel in the internet patent arena. EFF is digging up prior art on existing patents and then pursuing legal action for re-examination. | ||
=Participants= | ==Participants== | ||
*Hanna Breetz, Technology and Policy Program at MIT | *Hanna Breetz, Technology and Policy Program at MIT | ||
*Jason Kelly, BE at MIT | *Jason Kelly, BE at MIT | ||
Revision as of 08:24, 29 May 2007
The general idea would be for scientists (who might be so inclined) to actively keep an eye on new patent applications in their fields of interest in order to push back on overly-broad patents. I think there would be an interest in this sort of thing for synthetic biology at a minimum, but the feasibility is an open question :)
Contentious Patent Applications
It might be an idea to post important patents and allow people to add prior art that they might know about.
Does anybody have suggestions for categories for synthetic biology patents? The patents that are posted now seem to fit into 'devices' and 'assembly'. If we could organize the patents into particular technology categories, we could then create an internal hierarchy of patents based on the breadth of the claims.
Jason R. Kelly: Well, we could just get a laundry list together, some are probably sub-categories of others. Also, we probably care about certain categories more than others.
- Devices - collection of biological parts that accomplish a specific function
- Assembly - how to put parts together
- Synthesis - how to synthesize DNA de novo
- Part collections/libraries - the idea of collecting (and QCing?) parts
- others?
Part libraries
Assembly
Synthesis
This seems to be difficult one...we need to define some search terms to find what we are looking for. Actually, identifying useful search parameters for all categories is a good idea
These are the patents over which Codon Devices Inc. is suing Blue Heron Biotechnology (links are press releases from each respective company).
Devices
Prior Art (pre June 5,2003)
Weiss & Knight 1999 - see fig 1, a biological inverter based on gene expression.
Open questions
Please add/edit -- or answer!
- How hard is it to filter patents via existing search tools (e.g. into sub-fields)?
- What is the number of 'biology' patent applications submitted each day?
- Can you get access to the applications early enough in the process to effect the outcome?
- Is it better to go after existing patents (life the EFF patent busting project) or patent applications?
- Response from EFF lawyer:
It's very hard to attack patent applications because there is no formal opposition process and they often change during the prosecution process so as to be a bit of a moving target. Also, we've chosen to go after patents that are actively being used to attack; when they are at the application stage, it is harder to predict which ones will be the worst and worth going after. Good luck in your effects, though.
- Others?
Background
- The US patent office sounds like it might be interested in this sort of community input (Washington Post).
- EFF Patent Busting Project - interesting parallel in the internet patent arena. EFF is digging up prior art on existing patents and then pursuing legal action for re-examination.
Participants
- Hanna Breetz, Technology and Policy Program at MIT
- Jason Kelly, BE at MIT
