Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!cs.utexas.edu!rice!uupsi!ccavax!merriman
From: merriman@ccavax.camb.com
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Patents and MisinformationSKIP
Message-ID: <27520.2690baf8@ccavax.camb.com>
Date: 3 Jul 90 19:34:16 GMT
References: <1990Jun28.163043.501@craycos.com> <19165@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU>
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.
Lines: 21

In article <19165@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU>, jacobsd@mist.cs.orst.edu (Dana Jacobsen) writes:
> What sort of publications qualify as valid places to "publish"
> an invention?  For a computer graphics idea such as XOR cursors,
> would a group of comp.graphics postings qualify?  Or would the
> patent office only accept paper publications.  I suppose this
> means that the patent office's software experts should be on
> the net.  At least then we could have some expert input to this
> train..
> --
> --

The term used in patent law is disclosure, not publication. Basically, any
action the inventor takes to disclose the invention to the public at large,
even a very small segment of the public, constitutes disclosure.  Even
allowing the invention to be used by a second party without entering into a
non-disclosure agreement or otherwise controlling the further dissemination of
the invention can constitute disclosure.

> Dana Jacobsen                       Oregon State University
> jacobsd@cs.orst.edu                   Computer Science
> .!hplabs!hp-pcd!orstcs!jacobsd