The Sewing Machine War 136
lousyd writes "Volokh has hosted a paper by George Mason University law professor Adam Mossoff on the patent fracas a century and a half ago surrounding the sewing machine. A Stitch in Time: The Rise and Fall of the Sewing Machine Patent Thicket challenges assumptions by courts and scholars today about the alleged efficiency-choking complexities of the modern patent system. Mossoff says that complementary inventions, extensive patent litigation, so-called 'patent trolls,' patent thickets, and privately formed patent pools have long been features of the American patent system reaching back to the antebellum era."
Prediction (Score:1, Funny)
Intellectual property (Score:5, Funny)
When it comes to patents in the textile industry, you reap what you sew!
Re:The point (Score:4, Funny)
2 possible conclusions:
1) Don't get your knickers in a twist over patents. The US has managed just fine.
2) Sewing machine patents caused the Civil War!
Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Sewing Machines?! Slashdot has Jumped The Shark (Score:1, Funny)
Slashdot has the power to kick pretentious douchebags off the internet for good? Seriously?
Hot DAMN, I need to donate more! Keep up the good work, Taco and company!
(either that or Smidge left himself logged in in a public place or where he works and some jackass started trolling posts under his name; either way, fun!)
Re:The 'what' era? (Score:5, Funny)
I think you mean "The War of Northern Aggression," deah suh.
Re:The 'what' era? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The difference between then and now (Score:5, Funny)
Times are tough. It's hard to find a job. I don't buy the "Mexican's are stealing jobs" argument. But I'll be damned if I'm going to tolerate weasels putting on business suits and stealing jobs from humans!
Required Quote (Score:4, Funny)
In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these--Paul Harvey
Re:The 'what' era? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Argumentum ad antiquitatem? (Score:4, Funny)
I thought maybe you were using a definition of digital music sufficiently broad to encompass player piano rolls.
Re:Intellectual property (Score:3, Funny)
Very funny, I'm in stitches.