> > I don't see any way around this except for removing patents 
> > altogether.
> 
> IMHO the one who files the patent should pay for the prior art research.
> If this is costly so be it: it will at least discourage filing trivial
> patents.

In the US, theoretically the filer must do a patent search. In practice
this doesn't seem to be the case.

Also sometimes prior art is extremely difficult to locate until after
the patent is filed.
-- 
D. Jay Newman           !         Rock is Dead!
jay@sprucegrove.com     ! Long live paper and scissors!
http://enerd.ws/robots/ !
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