« Just a bunch of jibberjabber? | Main | patent searching -- stillwater, oklahoma »

August 28, 2004

patenting punctuation - copyfighters lament

Late Saturday evening fun::!?$@ (oh no - I may infringe)

From The Butt Ugly Weblog, quoting Joi Ito, quoting Ernest Miller @ Copyfight (and starting with IP Updates for good measure):

Well, it seems that someone has patented some new forms of punctuation: WIPO Patent Publication No. WO9219458:

Using two new punctuation marks, the question comma and the exclamation comma: and respectively, inquisitiveness and exclamation may be expressed within a written sentence structure, so that thoughts may be more easily and clearly conveyed to readers. The new punctuation marks are for use within a written sentence between words as a comma, but with more feeling or inquisitiveness.Seems that this is sort of an addition to the faddish punctuation known as the Interrobang.

How do these things get started?

My response over at Joi Ito's:

They never received a patent -- a WO number merely signifies that an application was filed and published through the PCT convention. It appears that the applicant never finished the process. So, there does not appear to be a "patent" on the punctuation.

People attempt to patent all types of things -- for example, a process of love. Any wonder why some odd ball ones get through from time to time?

Parties or social events where patent examiners congregate are rife with such stories and examples of what people file at the patent offices.  Who would have thought it -- urban myths dealing with over-broad patents.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 09:40 PM.
Permalink: patenting punctuation - copyfighters lament
| Sphere: Related Content