Patent mafia … US Congress?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, based in San Francisco’s Mission district,  warned Monday that changes to patent law pending in the US Senate endanger the ability of watchdog groups such as the EFF to challenge wrongly-issued patents on behalf of us (i.e. you and me, consumers).  Apparently, and this is certainly no accident,  sections of legal code updates have been inserted to permit only plaintiffs with direct financial interest from challenging a patent after twelve months from issue.  With the well publicized problems of the US Patent Office in checking prior art, and the fact that the problematic nature of some patents is not evident until long after issue, this effectively will curtail efforts by the EFF and others to prevent firms from ‘patent trolling’ and shakedowns of companies which infringe on (improperly issued) patents.

This affects the GLBTQ community, which has greatly benefited in the past fifteen years or so from the explosion of instant communications brought on by the internet, instant messaging, and other tools of this new age.  No longer is it so important to live in a physical “Queeristan” such as San Francisco, West Hollywood or the Village.  And young people can access information about LGBTQ issues and resources far more readily than before.

My two cents – the GW Bush Administration is busy doling out last-minute favors to keep some fat cat loyalists happy.  This is just one tip of a huge iceberg.