Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
But valid. The patent for the telephone was filed only 2 hours before another patent for the same device was filed...
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US patent laws are probably more flawed than copyright.
In that example, assuming they came up with the idea independently (I don't know the details) why should the first one to the patent office be considered the "owner" of the invention? Why should the second guy to the patent office get screwed? They're just as much a creator of the invention as the first guy. If we're saying that a creator should "own" an idea, shouldn't they both own it?