[Ti] patenting your idea (was: Poll 19)

[Michael]

>Trevor, your summation of the patent process is right on.  There is also a
>bar on patenting something that has been in public use or on sale for more
>than a year, so the AT&T screen someone mentioned earlier could (not
>necessarily will) prevent a patent on a folding screen for a laptop.

Yes, the prime ingredient for a patentable idea is "original".  A 
prior art search, a pre-requisite of seeking a patent, also searches 
news archives for (I can't recall the number of years); if an author 
even suggests the idea of your patent, it is no longer considered 
original and therefor un-patentable.

>
>BTW, is there any way to make my signature appear above quoted text in
>Entourage instead of below it?

Since it is improper Netiquette to post above quoted material it 
would be imprudent for an email client to allow this.
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