<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1" http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
<font face="Century Gothic">I'm an ex-Patent Examiner, I worked on G4A
(the computing classification, "digital data processing") at the Patent
Office. I worked there for about 6 years, four on computing and
reluctantly processed some "software" patents. I've been using Linux
for 6 years too (mainly Slackware).<br>
<br>
If you have any specific questions I may be able to help. I resigned to
start my own business (<a href="http://www.barefoot-ceramics.com">www.barefoot-ceramics.com</a>
- opening tomorrow [30/11/04]) about 3 months ago. Part of my
motivation to leave was that I don't have faith in the patent system,
basically capitalism in general has major suckage. Funny [ironic not
ha-ha] how patent means "open". I digress.<br>
<br>
I personally know most of the Examiners that work on G4A. An info
source that doesn't seem to have been mentioned is slashdot.org
discussions on software-patents - mostly uninformed (and USPTO
focussed) but interesting.<br>
<br>
As you might imagine, I'm pretty busy but will try to answer any
queries promptly. Any other Examiners out there??<br>
<br>
Cheers <br>
<br>
pbhj<br>
<br>
PS: Anyone interested in a Newport meeting? How many wall warts would
such a meeting need? We may be able to make our shop available (we sell
tea/coffee and a few soft drinks + flapjack/muffiny things) - I'm
hoping to install Wifi/broadband in the New Year too.<br>
<br>
</font><br>
Dafydd Walters wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid021601c4d61d$d4307e40$0500a8c0@larry" type="cite">Dick
Bain wrote: <br>
<blockquote type="cite">I have been looking at stuff on
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://swpat.ffii.org/index.en.html">http://swpat.ffii.org/index.en.html</a>
but any extra ammo welcomed <br>
</blockquote>
<br>
Also be sure to check out all the material on
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.NoSoftwarePatents.com">http://www.NoSoftwarePatents.com</a>
<br>
<br>
Regards, <br>
Dafydd. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________ <br>
SWLUG Discussion List - <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:Discuss@swlug.org.uk">Discuss@swlug.org.uk</a> <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://list.swlug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss">http://list.swlug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/discuss</a>
<br>
<br>
. <br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>