World: r3wp

For anyone that needs a backlink to their REBOL related pages of 
their website, I offer a REBOL links thread here http://www.tretbase.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=33

It does get scanned by Google, Yahoo, MSN, and other bots.

Good idea Paul.....

Another opportunity to present yourself to the world in a REBOL context 
is the members' pages at REBOL.org. Also highly friendly to Google 
and other search engines (No 1 in in Google for [I've tinkered with 
a lot of different languages] :-)
http://www.rebol.org/lmp-index.r

I need to look into that.  I think I only submitted one script to 
REBOL.org so far.

You do not have to be a script contributer to have a library member's 
page.

ah, slipping a little, now 'I've tinkered with a lot of different 
languages' is listed as the second page in Google!  ;-)

Google has many data centers, none quite synchronised. Results are 
semi reandom :-)

Anyone here have a patent and if so, where is your patent?  US, elsewhere, 
etc...    Also, what concerns did you have when you filed your patent 
or problems you faced?

Never did. Never will.

Never did. Probably never will.

Paul, I guess that it's about your compression methods. Maybe this 
analysis can help or even enlight you : http://gailly.net/05533051.html

That's quite funny! (And stupid.)

I have patents, just type in the word patent and my last name...

I have helped file patents for 25 years... I'm not sure what your 
real question is though.

Thanks Doc, yeah that document is tied to comp.compression group. 
 I know that group and have read their materials.  Thanks anyway 
though.

Reichart, do you have any patents through other offices other than 
the US Patent office?  Curious about costs you typically seen for 
filing and is your patents utility or design patents?

I hold patents in many fields, and around the world.  Costs are tricky. 
 In general, a patent is not worth it in the big scheme of things. 
 You best have something amazing.  Today, coming up with a patent 
in compression  would not really matter, since it would just annoy 
people, i.e. the Unisys patent inside GIF.


Let's say you came up with a way to make something 50% smaller even, 
but if you patent it, and no one will touch it, does it really matter? 
 And then, WHO would touch it, knowing that it is not open?  Is it 
really worth it.  Keep in mind, I made a lot of money specifically 
selling compression technology.  If you did much better, like 70% 
over the next best open system, then it might become worth something.


You have to weigh the value.  But figure to file outside of America 
will cost half again what it cost in America.  That can range from 
you doing it your self (a few grand all said, to an average of $8K 
- $12K ).


I personally have never paid less than $20K just in America. But 
my patents tend to be well researched (better than most people do 
for their patents).

The patent "search" is the expensive part.

Well the way I look at it - if I do get compression working then 
I'm willing to pay $10k for a patent and go after patents for it 
internationally.   I think it will market if it works.

You would have to defend the patent as well, if you want to keep 
it valid. That may cost way more than the patent itself. I personally 
think that patenting an algorithm is a surefire way of avoiding widespread 
use.

We wanted ti patent our CCD camera ethernet interface, but we were 
adiced to not to do so, because even if there would be some patent 
violation, you have to start court case in the given country, and 
we would have to be really rich, to affort that ...

Would patenting a compression algoritm be a "software patent" ?

yes - patenting algorithms is something that only the USA seems to 
be doing.. it gets a little stupid in the end..

Thanks for the comments.  Regarding protection of patents - this 
is an area where I believe the patent search is important.  If your 
lawyers have done a good patent search then I think the only defense 
your doing is for those that are infringing on your patent.  In which 
case I think you stand to make MORE $$$ if that is the case.

Paul, forget patents. Not worth. I hold 13, costs a lot, takes endless 
time and if a big player is infringing it you won't have enough $$$ 
to get your rights.

Well let's discuss that Robert.  How can it not be worth it if I 
hold the patent?  I would get the $$$ if I win the case against anyone 
infringing which will be the case so I don't get your conclusions 
here.

if: func [cond then-block [block!]][do then-block]

paul, what robert mean is that a patent is worthless until you have 

enough power to defend it. Unfortunatly I have the same experience,

to expensive and if a real big player like to take it, they will 
get 

it even if it takes years, your money and nerves. there are enough

simple and dirty tricks to dry you out. only speed helps here in 
my
opinion.

I guess I don't get how they can TAKE it?

Simple: They just use it and don't pay you. It's your turn to claim 
your rights. It's your effort, money etc. you have to spend They 
just continue to use your idea.

A great example is the RIM patent infringement - they got away with 
it until theyw ere big enough and then simply paid.

The idea of having a patent seems great, and can be very exciting. 
I'm co-inventor on one--just granted--and the company got together 
to discuss whether it was worth it to go international, add a continuation, 
etc. It's a long process, and has taken many years and a lot of money 
to get to this point. 


As we talked, we looked at who might pay for it. To make it worthwhile, 
we would need to go after big companies who would fight tooth and 
nail, and cost everybody more money and time. The best hope is to 
get *one* big company to acquire it for a reasonable sum, and let 
them add it to their arsenal for bartering and battle with other 
big companies. Other than that, it may keep our small competitors 
at bay in that area.


For us, it's clear that we would rather be doing real work than fighting 
legal battles. 


So, the product will now have a patent # associated with it, rather 
than "patent pending", and maybe we'll make something on it, but 
nobdoy is planning to get rich on licensing it.

I`ve read that many companies get patents, as patent infringement 
protection... if you sue them they'll couter claim whatever you infringe 
on their patents.

cause let's face it, basically every single piece of software on 
the planet infringes at least one patent in the US or Canada.

Yeah, I'm thinking you guys are right which is why if I get my stuff 
to a point of production that I'm not going to go with a patent and 
sell it to Microsoft.

Graham the retaliation has begun, I will go further if you want to 
continue to be an asshole.

Uh...............what did Graham do?

He decided to delete my groups.

But don't care anymore.  Delete my account please.

Hmmm....

Hmmmm.  Ok,  let me go confirm a couple of things, and then I will 
honour your request, figure 24 hours...

k

I am not sure why Graham should delete anything? Maybe he just removed 
someone mistakenly from some group?

We should not be opted in to someone's belief systems.

That's spamming us.

Nope he purposely did it.  He is not supposed to be doing such things. 
  He didn't even have to come into the group so his spamming argument 
is a pathetic attempt for sympathy.

What are you accusing me of??

Exactly what you did Graham.  You deleted groups.  Your not a master.

Hmm.  What proof is there that I did this??

Now your denying it?

And what groups am I supposed to have deleted ??

Who knows how many Graham.  You deleted !Compression which was a 
private group that people could have opted out of.  Your the first 
person I know that just went around deleting groups because it didn't 
FIT your perspective of how this world should operate.