[TheForge] Creeping commercialisation

Tue Jul 16 23:04:02 2002

I would like to point out a couple of things.

1. We have NO IDEA what the patent pending label applies to. For 
instance, they could have a quite legitimate patent on something special 
in the construction of their product which is their invention. We just 
don't know at this point. It seems incredibly unlikely that they are 
attempting to patent the twisted bar, for example.
2. You can't blame Bush and Clinton for an Italian company's patent.

Let's stop jumping to conclusions (everyone, not just Ries), stop 
throwing coal on the fire. We don't even know if it is lit.

Steve Smith

RIES NIEMI wrote:
> 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.
> 
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