>> The best thing anyone can do is to sit down and write a vastly
>> detailed description of every aspect of ways that =A0this may be done
>> and all the issues they can think of and more. And then publish it
>> public domain. A truly level playing field.

> Public domain in all of the world except the US, where I'm sure the
> patent office (who don't appear to understand the concept of prior
> art) will be more than happy to issue patents to anybody prepared to
> pay for them, and the legal system will be more than happy to support
> anybody with patents and enough lawyers. :(

IANAPA but:

My understanding is as follows. If a patent-affairs competent person
wishes to comment on how right o wrong I am it would be good.

- For $50NZ or about $40US you can get a 1 year provisional patent
which gives you US priority, and then let it lapse, at which stage it
becomes pubic domain BUT supported by patent organisation iorganised
prior claim.

- While a full patent must be carefully and formally constructed, the
provisional patent can consist of about any relevant material you
wuish to shovel into it, out of which you must subsequently build any
subsequent claims.

Russell

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