[Fsfe-ie] US Congress to Overhaul Patent Law

[Alex Macfie]

On Aug 23, 2005, at 18:52, Éibhear wrote:

> claims on it's functions. Microsoft got there first. Under the current
> first-to-invent system, a court case would present that the iPod 
> itself is
> "prior art" and therefore the patent is on shaky ground.
>

No, "first-to-invent" has *nothing* to do with prior art, which has to 
be *published*.

The iPod would only be prior art against Microsoft's if the technical 
details were *published* *before* Microsoft's claimed invention date. 
But if it's prior art, then no-one can patent it.

Alex
--
Alex Macfie, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C.
alex at cgce.net
http://www.cgce.net/