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patents

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  • 25-08-2008 5:22pm
    #1
    pwd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,284 ✭✭✭


    hypothetical question:

    In a recent thread on this forum someone said that in their company they document software development by using a wiki on the intranet.

    ok, say no one had invented a wiki, and someone developed one and described a process of documenting software development on the wiki

    -would that count as a business method which uses a program to solve a technical problem and therefore be patentable?

    I think my confusion is from not being certain of the exact definition of a business method in this context.


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    #2
    bpmurray
    Registered Users Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭bpmurray


    ... it looks like business processes are regarded as the lowlife of patents nowadays. However, if you work out an original way of doing things in business, then it's a business process that can be patented.

    Why not invent something instead and make it a real patent?


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    #3
    pwd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,284 ✭✭✭pwd


    Just trying to get an understanding of what sort of software could be patented and how, by using an example of software/process that I am familiar with: From my limited understanding of software patents, you can only get software patented as part of a business process.


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    #4
    bpmurray
    Registered Users Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭bpmurray


    Not true - I have four software patents (actually, my corporate masters have them!). You can patent software in some countries, but not in others. I don't think it's possible in Ireland or the UK, but it is in the USA - you can even do it online without a lawyer at http://www.uspto.gov


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    #5
    Hobbes
    Registered Users Posts: 21,264 ✭✭✭✭Hobbes


    bpmurray wrote: »
    you can even do it online without a lawyer at http://www.uspto.gov

    Unless your a patent lawyer I wouldn't even bother to attempt it to do it by yourself. It is expensive process and if not worded correctly it can be easily invalidated.

    A lot of the prior art systems are not free and patent lawyers would have access to them. It also costs easily 15-20K to file a patent.


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