[TheForge] Creeping commercialisation

[RIES NIEMI]

There is a phenomenon known as the privatisation of the commons, where large
corporations are attempting to take ownership of things that previously
belonged to all of us... things like your own genes, plants, animals, ideas,
words, etc.
Our great united states government has been particularly helpful in allowing
corporations to do this. Not just Bush, but Clinton too- Democrats and
Republicans get their money from the same places.
Before you dismiss me as some anarchist anti WTO type, which admittedly I
may be, check this out:
I just received a new catalog from Jansen Ornamental, which is a company
that sells stuff to ornamental iron fabricators. I occasionally order odds
and ends from them, so I am on their mailing list. They sell a line of
Italian imported preforged items- I am sure you have seen these- premade
basket twists, railing pickets, and the like. The thing that got me was many
of these items now have a little logo next to them that says "patent
pending".
This italian company is apparently attempting to patent the twisted bar, the
basket twist, the scroll, etc.
Frankly I find this outrageous. I am not sure if they can do this, but if it
is really happening we ought to initiate a letterwriting campaign to the
patent office to protest. Imagine being sued for using classic ironwork
techniques in your work.