Re: Alternative to Invention Patents

From: Mark Monson (m_monson_at_ztech.com)
Date: 06/18/04 

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 23:20:23 -0400

"Grinch":

> I assume that, as during the war, the size of awards would vary
> correspondingly to the usefulness of the invention. (Otherwise we are
> setting up some very dubious incentives)
>
> This would presume that ...
>
> 1) We have a cadre of government bureaucrats who can accurately gauge
> from looking at something the usefulness and value of *all*
> innovations in *all* businesses and industries across the entire
> economy -- whether the cost involved in $5 and a moment's thought or
> $500 million and years of research; and
>
> 2) These bureaucrats can see this *into the future*, which is of
> course the relevant issue. Those making big-money investments in new
> tech, new drugs, etc,. often do so hoping they may pay off ten years
> or so from now, very often in connection with other innovations not
> invented yet and possible industrial and economic changes that haven't
> occured yet. In our world they get their reward *only* if this
> happens. But your "award givers" will know this in advance, and give
> the corresponding award now for the usefulness that will be realized a
> decade hence.
>
> I suggest that if we have a cadre of bureaucrats capable of such
> performance they would be woefully underemployed examining
> applications for new designs of trash bags, diaper seals, drill bit
> packaging .. and even drug formuals and semi-conductor designs.
>
> These guys should be put in charge of a new USA Gosplan that will show
> how the Soviets should have done it right.
>
> As a minor nit pick relative to that, I will add that under the awards
> proposal taxpayers pay for the awards, and of couse in >99% of cases
> >99% of taxpayers will never use whatever the award is granted for.
> Which is economically inefficient. The "public"actually does pay,
> literally.
>
> In the patent system the price of the patented item is paid for by the
> user of it -- and of course the user would not pay that price unless
> the item was worth at least that much or more to him.
>
> This is more economically efficient.
It avoids the situation where
> taxpayers take a loss by paying for something they don't use, to
> enable users to pay less than they are willing to pay for that thing

That all depends on how well the examiner judges the usefulness of the invention.
In any case, my idea isn't proposed as a replacement for the patent system but as an
alternative. An inventor pays a fee, takes a shot and gets rejected or maybe gets
an award. It wouldn't be for everybody, but for the lone inventor who comes up
with that one great idea it may mean the difference between getting his idea out
there or just forgetting about it.

The federal government already gives away millions in grants to people who can show
that they have a plan to increase the general welfare ( and incidentally pay
themselves a salary). Some bureaucrat evaluates the grant application and decides
whether or not to send the check. Running a similar process for inventions isn't
so different.

MM

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Why you SHOULD NOT immigrate to canada!
    ... they may get a pay cut from the millions they get ... today for one game. ... Neither had the money to capitalize the production machinery to produce their baby in large numbers. ... Without moneybag capitalists Noyce and Kliby's invention would have remained a curiosity. ...
    (sci.econ)
  • Re: Fretkiller or Fretkillr
    ... When was the last time you paid your ... When did Chrysler last charge you for the royalties ... Did you pay royalties to Edison ... for the use of his invention the light bulb? ...
    (alt.guitar.beginner)
  • Re: If you use windshield wipers... thank a WOMAN
    ... Marge: It was a woman who invented liquid paper. ... Homer: That goes well with another male invention: the car. ... Pay for their dowry gift to their fiances (Not to mention ...
    (soc.men)
  • Re: Alternative to Invention Patents
    ... I recently applied for a US patent on the ... you would pay whatever fee you chose. ... invention would be limited to 1000 times the initial amount you chose ...
    (sci.econ)
  • Re: c^2 award
    ... I think they should be given an award, for invention of a ... > velocity idea. ... exclude both of the above from sf entirely. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.written)