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Patent Attorney Axel H Horns' Blog on Intellectual Property Law.

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Saturday, July 15, 2006

Microsoft Joining Peer To Peer Patent Project.

Just

published on the Blog of the

Peer to Peer Patent Project:

"[...] Microsoft has agreed to become a lead sponsor and participant in the Community Patent Review Initiative that will be launched in partnership with the USPTO to streamline and improve the patent application review process. Joining IBM as the second major corporation to provide funding and active support for this innovative pilot project, Microsoft has consented to allow some of its published patent applications to be peer reviewed during the community peer review pilot. This will allow third parties to submit prior art and commentary explaining the relevance of the prior art they provide to the patent office. [...]"

Well, I am not sure as to whether or not a patent holder has to be asked for consent at all. Or do they really think of disclosing a patent application prior to the 18 months term when it would get laid open anyway?

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