Patent goon squad
From OpenWetWare
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 Patents
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?
- Others?
Background
- The US patent office sounds like it might be interested in this sort of community input (Washington Post).
Participants
- Hanna Breetz, Technology and Policy Program at MIT
- Jason Kelly, BE at MIT