Exercise 4
Patent Law and Electronic
Commerce
Patent law has become a major influence in the development of electronic commerce since 1995. (see "Patent Claims May Slow Electronic Commerce")
Read GigaLaw text pages 114-140.
Read "How Could Software Patent Law Impact Electronic Commerce?"
Read "Are e-commerce patents patently absurd?"
Tim Berners Lee (1994 inventor of the WWW) objects to a patent issued that chills electronic commerce. Read "Letter to
Director, United States Patent and Trademark Office 28 October 2003" .
Read Microsoft Wins Patent Appeal
Assume the U.S.Government can posit a public policy on patents that favors invention yet fosters electronic commerce. Think through the issues presented above and write such a policy statement.
Send me an e-mail with your statement (200-300 words).
Send to:ajbolla@gmail.com This is the e-mail I use to receive your work product.
Use "subject" line: ilaw2patent
Include your personal identification information in any answer you "attach" to e-mail, otherewise you may not get full credit for your answer.