[OPE-L:2170] Re: RE: Re: Re: Markets and Information

From: Allin Cottrell (cottrell@ricardo.ecn.wfu.edu)
Date: Sun Jan 16 2000 - 10:37:05 EST


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On Sat, 15 Jan 2000 P.J.Wells@open.ac.uk wrote:

> Pro tem., I broadly agree with Paul and Allinn on this, but
> I think Allin must have been nodding when he wrote the
> following:
>
> I may patent the new method and
> > keep it a secret for as long as possible.
>
> Surely the whole point about the patent system is
> that one has to *reveal* one's discovery, in exchange for
> having time-limited property rights in the information
> conferred on one?

I plead guilty to the nodding charge. The broader point is that
whether I decide to try to keep my invention a secret or whether
I patent it, it is not freely available to others.

Allin.



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