New USPTO Test Could Limit Software-Based Patents

bizwriter writes "The high tech industry has been waiting for a Supreme Court decision in the Bilski case to decide fundamental questions, like when you can patent software. But there's a new test from the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (PDF) that just became precedential, meaning that it offers new grounds on which the US Patent and Trademark Office can deny patents on machines that use mathematical algorithms."

Re:Its a little too late...

[morgan_greywolf]

Quick and easy patent reform: Make the law such that:

1. Only individuals and not corporations may apply for patents.
2. Only the actual inventor can apply for and be granted the patent.
3. Patents cannot be sold, only licensed.