Boston Herald: This is a good editorial piece about the problems with the US patent system, with one of the major problems being the incentive of the patent office to accept patents.
"Examiners are considered productive if they approve applications. A rejection produces no continuing maintenance fees. Is it any wonder we have that PB&J special?
Harvard Business School Professor Josh Lerner testified to a House subcommittee on intellectual property that all parties have an incentive to "invest in abusing the system," for inventors are "induced to make marginal applications by the likelihood of success" - 85 percent of 350,000 annual applications will be approved. Holders of the many marginal patents can then use them to force others to pay royalties they shouldn't have to, or even to stay out of the field."
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