Re: Apple II vs Atari 800

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

Alex Freed wrote:
> > > *BUT* all this does make sense to me on at least one level: Atari 
> > > patented the custom chips. What happens in the patent process is if 
> > > you or someone else releases the information in the patent before it 
> > > is granted, the application is denied. The ANTIC creators, Jay Miner 
> > > Et Al, were granted the patent in 1981.
> >
> >
> > Actually, the limitation is that the patent application must be *filed*
> > prior to public disclosure.
>
> AFAIK the US is unique: you can file a US patent application up to one 
> year AFTER the "public disclosure". And also selling the patented object
> starts the clock even without any publications.
>
> -Alex who is NOT a lawyer.

Yep, that's my understanding of US law, too, which allows even more
lead time to get documentation out (if you're confident of your
filing schedule).

And you only have to "offer" something for sale that is described
as incorporating the patented IP to start the clock.

-michael

NadaPong: Network game demo for Apple II computers!
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