How to Invent and Protect Your Invention: A Guide to Patents for Scientists and Engineers

CHAPTER 14. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

1. What are some of the societal costs of the U.S. patent system?

2. Why is software an area of innovation that is more likely to be hindered by patents?

3. While the patent system does prevent people from making, using, or selling a patented invention for a limited time, it serves an important objective. What is that objective?

4. In your opinion, does patent law strike a good balance between creating an incentive for disclosure of inventions and allowing the public to use inventive ideas? If given the opportunity, would you make any changes to the patent system?

5. Do patents protect basic research or applied science?

6. How does the patent system foster competition? Elaborate.

7. What is inventing around?

8. Why is ignorance of the patent system dangerous to innovation?

9. The following exchange of words has taken place during the famous Drug Hearings between Senator Kefauver and Dr. Vannevar Bush, the director of National Science Foundation:What is the point Dr. Bush tries to make? What does this dialog illustrate?

Sen. Kefauver: Suppose Dr. Fleming had taken out a patent on penicillin?

Dr Bush: Ah, if he had, we would have had penicillin 10 years earlier than we finally got it.

10. What is the relationship between inventing and investing?

11. What are the two “roots” of any patent?

12. Give a few examples of how patented technology has changed your life.