Here is a good link. Don Lancaster who believes that patents are a bad deal for everyone. And I agree.... http://www.tinaja.com/patnt01.asp AGSC Gus On 2006-Apr 13, at 3:53 PM, Patrick Murphy wrote: Hi, > Does anyone have recent experience with receiving a hardware or > process patent? I was curious how long it took from initial > application to issue. An attorney we know said recently that quite a > few are stretching out to 4-5 years or more. Googling on "patent application backlog" brings up some articles that may be of interest - I just happened to read a few before this discussion came up. One that is tech related and from the April 2006 issue of PC World: http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,124826,00.asp An excerpt, starting with a quote from USPTO commissioner John Doll: "We do not have the ability to examine all the new cases that are being filed, and that's especially true in the high-tech areas," Doll says. The USPTO started 2005 with a backlog of 500,000 new patent applications, and ended the year with a backlog of nearly 600,000. Patent examiners have a set amount of time--an average of 20 to 30 hours for computer software and hardware--to review a patent, handling any appeals and updates from the applicants as well, before issuing a final approval or rejection, says Robert Budens, president of the Patent Office Professional Association that represents examiners. That time frame, Budens says, has not changed since 1976, despite added procedural complexity and accelerating technological advancement. If examiners exceed the time limits, they lose their jobs. -- Best regards, Patrick Murphy James Valley Colony -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist