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From: kathy@bakerst.UUCP (Kathy Vincent)
Newsgroups: sci.crypt,comp.misc
Subject: Re: patents -- (disclosure)
Message-ID: <934@bakerst.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Sep-87 07:04:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: bakerst.934
Posted: Tue Sep 29 07:04:39 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Oct-87 04:29:29 EDT
References: <1372@osiris.UUCP> <441@polyslo.UUCP> <686@sugar.UUCP> <155@decvax.UUCP> <2411@calmasd.GE.COM> <1329@se-sd.sandiego.NCR.COM>
Reply-To: kathy@bakerst.UUCP (Kathy Vincent)
Organization: Chocoholics Anonymous UnLtd, Winston-Salem, NC
Lines: 34
Keywords: patent
Xref: mnetor sci.crypt:594 comp.misc:1362

In article <1329@se-sd.sandiego.NCR.COM> dennis@se-sd.sandiego.NCR.COM writes:
>In article <2411@calmasd.GE.COM> jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone) writes:
>>
>>One, commonly used, method for "proving" the date of invention is to
>>document the invention and mail it to yourself (postmark).  Leave the
>>envelope un-opened.
>> 
>Gosh, I think I'll mail myself some envelopes (unsealed of course) to
>get them postmarked today.  Then, when something comes along that I
>want to be the inventor of, I'll write a description of it and put it
>into one of the envelopes and seal it.  Incontrovertible evidence that
>the invention was mine!  :-) :-) :-)


I don't think so, guys.  As I remember from having done this years ago
in an effort to protect some songs I was writing ...  The envelope would
have to have be sealed.   And the mail has to be registered, and they
stamp the heck out of the envelope - including the seal, as proof that
the contents were in the envelope on the date the envelope was sealed,
registered, and mailed.  Also, I was curious and asked a lawyer friend
just how valid that was, and the whole thing is very iffy - might not,
in fact, stand up in court.  

Oh.  One small consolation.  You don't actually have to MAIL the
thing, if you decide to go this route anyway.  Just go to the PO,
get your enveloped stomped, pay your money - and walk back out
with your envelopes.  :-)  Then take them to the bank and put them
in your safety deposit box until time to open them in court.

You DO have a safety deposit box for all these things, right? :-)


Kathy Vincent ------> Home: {ihnp4|mtune|codas|ptsfa}!bakerst!kathy
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