Dr. Michelson is well known throughout the industry for slaying the mighty dragon. In a unprecedented decision, Dr. Michelson became a billionaire as a result of his infringement lawsuit against Medtronic. He slay the industry giant on its home court in Memphis in front of a packed house. Dr. M's, message is that the USPTO is in dire need of patent reform, citing a three year backlog of over 8oo,000 patents, if cleared, could potentially open the door to new jobs and technologies that would enhance the lives of millions of Americans.
After years of fighting for his individual rights, Dr. M. crusades for patent reform legislation. To paraphrase Bono "it's alright, it's alright, it's all right, he moves in mysterious ways." TSB wants to know what our readers think about patent reform?
Yeah he "slayed" the mighty dragon but the fact he was able to patent such broad applications is a joke. The only reform that needs to happen is the patent office needs to quit allowing for such broad and over generalized patents to be accepted. Really, MM this guy's hero? Way to set the bar low.
ReplyDeleteHey, as usual, I just report what's been heard on the street. I guess you really missed the point of the post when I finished up paraphrasing U2's lyrics. Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteHe probably wants the backlog cleared so he can make his next billion. I agree with anonymous 12.30 that the patent office should stop allowing a new patent on the wheel, or as happened with Michelson, a hollow tube. My sources tell me that Michelson's strategy, at least in the past, was to attend meetings such as ORS, search out presentations on new ideas and than file patents before the resource poor university student or fellow presenting the idea even had a chance. That would explain the number 900. Anyone else ever hear that?
ReplyDeleteIf anyone ever had the pleasure seeing Gary K. and his phalanx of attorneys wandering the aisles at NASS you know that, although he says he wants the best technologies and care for back pain patients, his larger concern is making sure those patients are getting a high a percentage as possible of his products from whichever company had to license his patents.
ReplyDeleteHe may still roam the aisles - I don't know. I do know that he would go through every booth of interest and have his squad (I've seen him with as many as 8 others with him, presumably his patent counsels) examine every posted banner for proper attribution language on his licensed patents. Not only attribution but that his name was in all caps and in a font size larger than the surrounding text.
Having been named on a few spinal patents, I've run into numerous GKM patents that seemingly patent the obvious. The reform that's needed is exactly what was said before - put funding into the USPTO to get industry-educated reviewers into the system to actually weed out ridiculously broad claims and drive innovation through actual technology, not the ability to sue someone over the tooth profile on a PEEK spacer.
MM: Where would be a good spot on your blog to share info about SPINE jobs my firm is recruiting on?
ReplyDeletePaten reform can only “open the door to new jobs and technologies that would enhance the lives of millions of Americans”, if it mirrors the shareware model. Better yet Dr. Michelson could purchase the patents' from the corporation and GIVE it to the open market! I hardly differ the latter. But I do agree with all - how many designs can you make out of a wire (spring) / PEEK (footprint)? Now is the time for university students to stock up on lab books. : )
ReplyDeleteAt least we can take comfort knowing that EU patent authorities are also issuing patents for novelties like Air and The Wheel. The system needs upgrading on a global basis. Badly.
ReplyDeletePatent attorneys weigh in on the letter:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2010/03/dr-michelson-supports-patent-reform.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FANlN+%28Dennis+Crouch%27s+Patently-O%29
To Anonymous, March 19th, 7:37 a.m.
ReplyDeleteIf you would be interested in using our blogspot as a resource to post job openings at your company, please e-mail a description of the job, what kind of experience are you looking for, and any other info that will help your search, and we will post it on the site. Send your all pertinent information to spineblogger@me.com
Posting a job on this site seems a bit dangerous, in terms of its potential for abuse, unless the recruiter's (corporate or third party) contact info is fully disclosed, and that recruiter's employment at their firm can be verified. Otherwise, an HR professional from XYZ spine could post something here by e-mailing a job description to TSB under some pseudonym (leaving their company name out [would anyone dare try to dupe TSB?!]), and try to gather candidates as a recruiter might via a job-posting w/o a company name, and with plenty of over-generous language.
ReplyDeleteThe point is, if you plan on responding to postings up/around here (TSB included), make sure that the person to whom you are responding is fully and accurately disclosed; make sure you know where your info is going. There are plenty of oddball recruiters out there who might say one thing and do another (especially in this economy). Likewise, there are plenty of HR folks who are being put under pressure by their higher-ups to find better people with less resources, and may be willing to utilize unethical tactics for the sake of job security.
But if TSB puts the recruiter contact info up, that recruiter will be subject (risk assumed) to plenty of spam and e-mails of all sorts. On the other hand, if all applicants must go through TSB...well what if an employee of a firm gets curious and sends their info through TSB. Couldn't TSB be their boss, or some coworker.
Dear Executive Search Firm:
ReplyDeleteTSB would not post anything unless the third party was willing to provide all the necessary information. Question: Please provide our readers with an example of unethical tactics. If you believe that someone would subject themselves to spam or unnecessary e-mails all one has to do is look at Medevice Recruiters. As for applicant's going through TSB, well let's just put it this way, I am not interested in what jobs others are looking for. All correspondence would go directly to the company or recruiter. As far as anonymity, over the last year we have received confidential information from various readers and not once have we ever divulge anyone's identity. Hope that answers some of these concerns.
Patents? in today's world they are an absolute joke. the founding fathers of this country envisioned protecting ideas of those that created commerce. the patenting process today does not represent products being sold and inhibits commerce.
ReplyDeletelike everything else, it is who has deeper pockets to litigate. they prevail