I thought I would point out something quite contrary to the point made by alm. Nanotechnology, still only a pipe dream for some of us since isn't really 'here' yet, but a lot of work is going into design of systems which will work _once the basic enabling technology is created._ For an example, check out Ralph Merkle (who should be known to the crypto junkies out there) at http://nano.xerox.com/nano and you'll see a good starting place. By preempting the patent protection of the field by publishing all this prior art, it will leave only the original breakthrough to be patentable (and even that is in doubt, since 'wet' nanotech--biotech--is the probable starting place to learn things about what will work in 'dry' nanotech, the patentability of this sort of thing is certain to be hotly contested). So by turning all that brainpower and effort into the creation of prior art, nobody will get a State-granted monopoly in this most promising technology. It goes without saying that given the potential of fields like nanotech that patent protection would be ignored, gotten around, or subject to the sinister efforts of Violation of Intellectual Property Rights (VIPeR) projects. There will STILL always be plenty of room at the bottom. Nick ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Apr 13 2001 - 12:57:49 PDT