Microsoft: Can't our patent systems get along?
InternetNews | at | by Mike
One of Microsoft's top attorneys on Wednesday called for an overhaul of the patent system to create a single, global patent office that will streamline and accelerate the approval process.
Microsoft, and many other technology firms, are frustrated with the lack of a global patent system. There are more than 190 separate nations around the world, and the lack of a unified patent system constitutes an important impediment to business.
Today, there is no standardized global system for handling patent filings, verification, issuance, and enforcement. While work has been going on for years among nations worldwide to "harmonize" various nations' patent systems, much more needs to be done, and Microsoft is stepping up the dialogue on that.