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February 19, 2005

PUBPAT asks a good question

The Public Patent Foundation (“PUBPAT”) has asked a really good question this past week:  is something a “public Town Hall Meeting” if you have to pay to attend?

PUBPAT questions, in particular, the objectiveness and openness of "Town Hall" meetings on patent reform that have been held in San Jose and will be held next month in Chicago and Washington D.C.

"I've never heard of a 'Town Hall' meeting that charges a fee to members of the town in order for them to be allowed entry to the hall," said Ravicher. "However, PUBPAT is not condemning the meetings or calling for a boycott; we're just encouraging people to question whether the meetings have been structured in a way that truly allows for the interests of all parties affected by the patent system, and particularly the interests of the public to be free from wrongly issued patents and perverse patent policy, to be equally represented."

In order for all “stakeholders” to buy into any reform, the process of reform itself must first appear to be open and accessible to stakeholders of all viewpoints.  I hope PUBPAT will make any response it receives “public” as well.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 06:15 PM.
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