Archive Article: 2001/10/12

12 October 2001

Patent disputes – only winners are lawyers

Is it possible to invent a machine which does not infringe patent rights? Manufacturers seem to accept that infringements are almost inevitable when they introduce new machinery.

Those who score are the legal profession which makes big money as claims and counter-claims are dealt with. Such costs are passed on to purchasers which the industry can ill afford.

Although inventors deserve rights to the financial control of their work, developing machinery capable of improving industry output and profitability should not be strangled by threats of litigation.