Intellectual Property and you – Patents – Part 1

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We are net importers of technology, why not reverse-engineer?

Many of you would not have heard of the word patents before, and some of those who have, find it a bit confusing to say the least.

Essentially, a patent is a type of intellectual property right which is granted by the state to an inventor/innovator of a new and innovative product.

There are steps to be satisfied before a patent can be granted, but once granted, the owner is granted exclusive rights to further manufacture and develop the patented product, thus making new products out of the patented subject-matter.

Many products used daily derive from a patented product.  The laptop, our television sets, our mobile phones … the list is infinite.  Indeed, we are net importers of technology.

Being net importers of technology enables us to disassemble the product, figure out how it works, and make a new product which can even be sold cheaper than that which is extant.

How?

Take the mobile phone for instance (or the iron, or the laptop or indeed, the PC). Once these products are what we consider “dead-beat” they are thrown away.  But before, many of us try to recycle them by taking them to a young “genius” or “science-freak” or indeed, one of those specialised places where they are capable of repairing these things. Except that, some times, these products become irreparable and the solution – buy a new, swanky piece of technology, more likely than not from the US, because it is cheaper.

But imagine this scenario where instead of throwing away the technologies, these so-called “dead-beat” technologies are used in an educational manner.  Whereby our young people learn to dismantle the product and learn about the intricacies of making this product. Learn to assemble and dismantle the building blocks, the legos.

Why?

A nation which builds its own products can become more competitive on the global market.  Indeed, instead of being a net importer of technology, we can become exporters of such technology, sold cheaper than that which is extant.

Of course, it will take a number of years before we change from giving away our hard-earned cash to increasing the public purse, but the fact is — it is wholly possible.

Patents are a powerful investment!

Marcia B Moulon Esq.
© 2010 Law Office of Marcia B Moulon Esq., PC

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7 Comments

  1. Caribbean Sailor
    January 30, 2010

    A great article which certainly opens up a window for everyone to see the incredible opportunities that exist for a creative mind. The old saying of one man’s trash is another man’s treasure is at the foundation of
    e-bay’s world wide success.

    The ability to transform something that is in a state of non functionality, or a state of obsolescence into another product, that is improved in function, operation or aesthetics’ will as the article’ writer suggests, require planning at multiple levels.

    Take the world wide issue of garbage as an example.

    What can be done with garbage?

    There are many by-products that can be of significant benefit to society, but to do something of value with it requires a long range goal. The goal could be the production of renewable energy.

    What requirements would be necessary to ‘fuel’ the plant?

    What level of energy could be produced (take the production of the so called bio fuels as an example of poor planning)

    How could the energy that is produced be distributed?

    How would the investors be repaid?

    Many opportunities for Dominica and the world to look at everything, make a decision based on strategic long term planning, and move forward. If you have a plan, at least it can change if necessary. If there is no plan, there is certainly no action!

    Keep up the great work everyone!

  2. W. Wansborough
    January 29, 2010

    To Staffy:

    One little word of correction.

    You are identifying computers with their Operating Systems (Windows 95, windows 3.1). A computer is one thing and the Operating System that is installed on it is a completely separate piece of software. It is the choice of the computer owner what type of Operating System is used. Also you seem to be hinting that because the Operating System is old the computer is old. That is far from the truth. Judgment about the quality of a computer rests on more than just a passing reference to use of Operating System.

    Anyone who is venturing into the recycling of computers needs a completely different mind set or outlook. A computer is essential an electronic machine that runs algorithms (software). If there is no software, then a computer can’t exist. So to successfully re-engineer computers we must analyze the machine component by component and understand what the role of each is. True, components are improved upon all the time however to make intelligent choices we need to know what the improvements and differences are. For example having a very fast processor in a system is not necessarily going to result in a faster system if other vital parts cannot keep up with the processor. The speed of a whole system depends on its slowest parts.

    A computer is very modular in design. It is built like a car – engine, gearbox, wheels, steering wheel, chassis, body etc. Most engineering products are put together in a similar way. You do no have to be an absolute top draw engineer or even an engineer at all to buy a computer, a car or an aircraft as a kit and assemble it yourself. So for a computer we want to observe its assembly and teach our selves about the separate modules by studying what their various functions are.

    For a computer they are:

    1. The processor.
    2. The main board.
    3. Memory (ram).
    4. The BIOS (Basic Input Output System: that’s used to start the computer software environment).
    5. The disk drives (there are various types).
    6. The power supply.
    7. Input and output devices (keyboard, monitor …)
    Approximately.

    I have just tried to outline some of the main features. The deeper you delve into it the more you learn. Another important thing to learn is how to find information (data) about components. You need data about the various parts to re-engineer them successfully. That is very easy; all you need to do is learn what the various kinds of coding that is written on the components are telling you. That information is easy to find online or in books. I collect manuals and data sheets for things I am interested in. You always need to refer to them at some time in the future.

    Regarding Operating Systems: We should not take it for granted that this year’s software is better than last years just because it is the latest edition. The kind of Operating System you use depends on the task the computer is going to perform and the skills of the person who is operating it. For example most PCs use a graphic interface Operating System like Windows in which the user points and clicks. That type of system is very user friendly and makes computers available to a broad range of people, not to mention money in the bank for the manufacturer, but at the same time it wastes the power of the processor drawing all these lines, creating icons, running hidden programs that brings no benefit to the main task at hand. The popular Operating Systems seek to make computer operations very simple in an effort to appeal to the mass market but they are not efficient.

    The more efficient the Operating System is the faster the computer will perform.

    ‘Watch’ made a good point we need to start getting innovative in a quest to produce what we need. But the way things are at present does not encourage innovation. We tend to look abroad for the solutions to our problems and very little attention is given to developing home grown talent.

    Engineers can change society.

  3. January 28, 2010

    In late 1999.. some U.S . companies were dumping their old dinorsaur computers (WIN 95 ..even WIN 3.1) to our schools and they were lying all over the place. Some of the scraps are still at some schools .

    Thats a good idea to do the reverse.
    Thats what the Chinese are doing,. taking a sample and making imitations
    The world highest in production now.

    Dominica can put its name on the map too. But…………………..

  4. grandbayrian
    January 28, 2010

    In response to the above commentator, instead of being critical in your remarks, why not be positive in your thinking and try to share your skills and knowledge in your community or try to market them to the nation instead of being selfish? We cannot rise as a nation if we are not wiling to help each other. We need to start in our community instead of waiting on the Government to do everything for us.

    I believe that if we get togeher and start working collectively we will develop faster as a nation. We have a lot of resources but we are waitng on the government to tell us what to do. Why should some of us abandon our gardening and instead feasting on all the fast foods and imported foods which are filled with additives and preservatives and causing 66% of our women to be overweight? We seem to be following the footsteps of these foreign countries which do not care about the health of their people but rather the capital that they can make. We need to become more sensible than we are instead of following the pathway of death and destruction to our bodies.

    I know that we are talking about patents but I also had to address the issue above because I believe that we need to take stock of what we really have at our fingertips and make good use of them.

  5. for real
    January 28, 2010

    The main thing here is reading and research and getting knowledge first b4 we can start to assemble and disassemble. But i like this topic i my self love technology and the knowledge of how things work. there are few people like me but not many that would think it possible to create something from scraps..it takes drive and an idea in your head first.. First thing we have to start thinking that way that reading to get the drive or interest then once start its alot of fun… come on Dominicans lets elevate our standards to the next level thats just one way.

  6. Watch
    January 28, 2010

    They need to start with the simple idea of self-sustained… When the believe in making what we need gets in our system we start to become a more inovative people.

    Think of all of our imports

    Chicken
    Beef
    Vegetable Oil
    Soap
    Rice
    Flour
    Sugar
    Milk
    etc

    At least 8/10 of the things we import can be produced in Dominica, we have 290 square miles of land. Bermuda has 20 sq miles and they produce their own Milk which is sold in super Markets.
    If you have basic infrastructure for producing Food for your people then you’re producing more, importing less, employing people creating jobs etc .. I wish Dominicans would realise that we can take the bull by the horn and develop Dominica while keeping it an eco-friendly place.

  7. W. Wansborough
    January 28, 2010

    Something very important is being said here but Dominica is not a knowledge based society and the value of the story will pass over people’s heads.

    I am into technology. I collect abandoned electronics circuit boards which I recycle into other gadgets that I build myself. The components on the circuit boards are valuable. They still work perfectly.

    I have never been to a shop to buy a new computer. I have always built my computer mainly from what other people have thrown away. When I travel about I carry a set of miniature tools if I see and old computer that has been abandoned I take the components. I have studied certain types of science subjects that gives me the ability to create new things from what is broken. At present I am working on a small radio transmitter. Recycling is a good way to learn how things work and keeps to the theme of Dominica as an eco friendly society. A big problem in the world today is waste, and recycling does reduce waste.

    Taking electronics as an example: most of what is thrown away contain components which are in perfect working order. However people who lack knowledge will not see any value in an abandoned microwave oven for example. But then if you stop and ask yourself how does such a machine boil stuff. That simple question can lead one to a very valuable component at the heart of the microwave oven – the magnetron(a very high frequency wave generator). A resourceful science teacher can make use of self-made machines to enhance students learning.

    When I see a story like this one and it’s not responded to by many people, I am reminded of what Dominica is really like.

    I think the person who has written this story is saying something that all Dominicans should be listening to. These concerns about technology and scientific knowledge is at the center of what is causing our slow development. The inability to do for oneself and always have to rely on the ability of others is not a desirable state of affairs.

    I would like the writer to keep talking about these activities, because it will take some time for these ideas to make an impact on the consciousness of the general public.

    A WORD OF WARNING: ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE DISMANTLED WITH CARE. SOME COMPONENTS CAN CONTAIN DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES. PLEASE DO SOME STUDY FIRST.

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