[TheForge] Creeping commercialisation

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

In a message dated 7/16/02 5:16:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time, osan@netlabs.net 
writes:

> If, however, you can show that
>   you independently arrived at the same, or very similar technology
>   prior to the granting of their patent, they not only can go pound
>   salt, their patent becomes void due to what is commonly referred to
>   as "prior art".  If John Doe made widgets in 1890 and never got a
>   patent, it is possible that you could secure a patent for it, but
>   if someone uncovers the truth about John Doe's previous art, your
>   $$ patent will not be worth the paper it is printed on in the case
>   where you go to litigation.



The following patent exists. Did you ever swing that way as a kid? Do you 
think the patent examiners who granted it did, too? Nevertheless... Sadly, 
I'd suspect that any patent can be enforced if you have more time and lawyer 
money than the defendant.


United States Patent  6,368,227  
Olson  April 9, 2002  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
Method of swinging on a swing 

Abstract
A method of swinging on a swing is disclosed, in which a user positioned on a 
standard swing suspended by two chains from a substantially horizontal tree 
branch induces side to side motion by pulling alternately on one chain and 
then the other. 

Licenses are available from the inventor upon request.


(Read more about it under "Previously Featured..." at:
http://www.library.ubc.ca/patscan/bizarre_patents.html )



   Bill Alleman
   Tavern Village Forge
   Weare, NH



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