Topic: Patent Office

The Invention Secrecy Act of 1951 allows the U.S. government to classify patents and prevent inventors from profiting if the technology is deemed a threat to national security. Over 5,000 inventions have reportedly been shelved under this act, leading to theories about the suppression of "zero point energy" and other disruptive technologies.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is reportedly deferring to Congress on the issue of patent ownership transparency. The hosts argue that the inclusion of software in the patent system has ruined the process, turning it into a tool for large corporations rather than a protection for individual inventors. They suggest software should be treated under copyright law rather than patent law.

Google was recently awarded a patent for serving ads based on environmental conditions gathered through device sensors like microphones and cameras. Adam Curry discusses his move to Ubuntu and Thunderbird to improve privacy and performance, while John Dvorak remains skeptical of open-source design tools.

Vivek Kundra cites the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a success story because 50% of its employees telework. He claims the program has saved $2 million and reduced carbon emissions by 14,000 tons. Skeptics question whether high rates of teleworking contribute to perceived inefficiencies and backlogs at the patent office.