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Yes but...
The process of issuing the patent should ensure that there is no prior art within patent system (I said world patent, not just USPO), so at least you are reasonably safe from an Eolas type attack if the patent is granted - admittedly there's no guarantee.

There are numerous examples of good ideas that were published and even in common use, that were patented by someone who was not the inventor. The continuous chook feeder is a classic example from the 1920's (essentially fitting on the end of a tube from a grain hopper to the chook pen to ensure a continuos flow of feed as the chooks consume it - no moving parts and virtually maintenance free). It was widely in use in poultry farms throughout Australia when some enterprising Yank saw it, patented the idea in the US and made a fortune (not an anti-US rant, just an example that publishing is not necessarily a practical defence either).

The formula for Aeroguard personal insect repellent is another.
Posted by: Fred Fredrickson   Posted on: 08/12/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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But..  Jeff Spicoli | 08/12/04
No thanks, not if it's Microsoft  shawkins | 08/12/04
Dude, who cares??? Seriously...  Stellardyne | 08/12/04
Microsoft could care less about fighting spam  Jeff Spicoli | 08/12/04
Yes, I know Microsoft Cares  KyleLC | 08/13/04
Your mail is spam  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
I care  OhMyGosh | 08/13/04
Technology?  nomorems | 08/12/04
the ip is in the header already is it not? (NT)  V Sanders | 08/12/04
Yes, sort of  Patrick Jones | 08/12/04
but  seosamh_z | 08/12/04
Partially...  Patrick Jones | 08/13/04
But partially  seosamh_z | 08/13/04
What? No comment from No_Ax?  itanalyst | 08/12/04
He's busy patching..  Jeff Spicoli | 08/12/04
SP2 downloaded  mikeybrass | 08/12/04
You're funny  Fred Fredrickson | 08/12/04
Longhorn anyone?  nomorems | 08/12/04
Presumption...  mikeybrass | 08/13/04
*shakes head*  mikeybrass | 08/13/04
Yah and wher's Mikey (NT)  daveswan | 08/12/04
*LOL* Good one IT Analyst... (NT)  Stellardyne | 08/12/04
License problem sorted yet?  Nigel Johnstone | 08/12/04
Hey if you can't trust Microsoft  skeptic tank | 08/12/04
Patents depending  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
Government intervention  medezark | 08/12/04
But  seosamh_z | 08/12/04
Not all doom and gloom  Fred Fredrickson | 08/12/04
Patents don't protect  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
Yes but...  Fred Fredrickson | 08/12/04
There's gotta be..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/12/04
Bunch of whingers  mikeybrass | 08/12/04
Strings attached  Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/12/04
Brought it on themselves  nomorems | 08/12/04
Not if it is from Micro$sux$ALOT!  NonZealot | 08/12/04
nice, but.....  Suicida| | 08/12/04
Another "One click" patent will hand email to MS  Sleveless | 08/13/04
White Man Speak With Forked Tongue  ParadigmOdyssey | 08/14/04
Add Sender ID Support to your Windows SMTP!  aloaha | 08/31/04

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