Ah, now the bullshit finance "industry" has collapsed, our political leaders want us to invent.

Eat my effing shorts, basically.

Sorry. The removal of rights for inventors (the 1999 Access to Justice act), and the theft-based fascist Technology Transfer mantra have done their job.

We can no longer innovate.

Happy?

Good.

Nasty NESTA?

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) seems to be having an identity crisis. Initially set up to fund individuals and small groups, it now seems not to be funding individuals and small groups. It now seems it only wants to invest in “established” teams and trading businesses.

As far as I can gather, NESTA reopened its investment fund in March 2007 (having been shut since April 2006). The new investment fund – NESTA Ventures – comes with exciting, new and innovative investment criteria. Here they are: http://www.nesta.org.uk/apply-for-funding

Exit strategies and exit timeframes; experienced management teams; high exit capitalisation bla bla sodding bla... Errr, how the hell, then, does this crap differ from the funding criteria of a bog-standard (British) Venture Capital fund? Answer: it doesn’t.

What about the individual inventor then? What about the people who it was set up to support?

Well, as we all know, venture capital firms do not fund individual inventors. But now, so it seems, neither does NESTA. For more info about this disgraceful betrayal I can recommend the following article: Time to blow the final whistle on NESTA?

CAUTION: read on at your own peril – your eyes may pop out or your head might explode.

WOW! Fantastic innovation performance in the UK!!!

Here it is. Quite phenomenal...!

Source: World Intelectual Property Organisation (PDF file)

All those billions well spent then; all those initiatives working well; our "knowledge economy" powering forward.

Good job financial services are propping us up, eh?

Umm...£21 billion to prop up Northern Rock doesn’t count – not at all.

Sir Hugh Laddie – former High Court judge, Professor of Intellectual Property Law at University College London – slams UK’s IP system

He states:

“Recently, the European Patent Office gathered information on the relative costs of litigation across Europe. It disclosed that to litigate a small to medium-sized patent case in England costs between three and ten times as much as the same case in Germany or the Netherlands.”

and:

“Not everyone in the English legal system is concerned. Recently, a senior person in the patent field said that things were not really that bad – the diary of the Patents Court in London (part of the High Court) was very busy for the next 15 months. However, a dispassionate examination of the figures shows how bad the position is. Last year there were 500 patent trials in Germany. In England there were only 12 that reached judgment at first instance. No judge in that court heard more than four patent cases that went all the way to judgment.”

and most damningly:

“A legal system that is outside the financial reach of most of the population undermines the rule of law.”

He has hit the sodding nail on the bloody head, frankly.

Thus we have a definitive admission that the IP system in the UK is “lawless”.

Thanks for watching.

DT.

PS I would like to meet this “senior [idiot] in the patent field”.

Source: The Times

Sir Harry Kroto – Nobel Prize winner – slams the wrecking of British science

He states:

"If the world's future lies in scientists’ hands, the answer is unlikely to come from the UK"

Hmm…well said. The only thing I could add to this statement is that my current invention will have (could have if exploited) a significant positive environmental impact. But, as I’m (was) gagged from revealing it, his assertion could only be said to be true, could it not?

Source: The Guardian

New EU patent court kicks out UK judicial system

Apparently, patent judges from 26 European states have agreed to common EU rules and procedures for the European Patent Litigation Agreement (EPLA).

The unanimous vote was to junk the British judicial system in favour of European style justice.

A well-known British IP commentator stated: “ well, I’m not surprised. Who in the hell wants a theft and class-based system like the British one? No access to the law, wealth-based privilege, a declining innovation rate and politically motivated stealing of wealth from the poor to the rich. Well done Europe”.

Sources: EU patent judges agree on rules

Highest court rules on employee invention

The court held that an employer can be liable for damages if an employee cannot register his invention as a patent or utility model in a country because the employer has used (but not registered) the invention there. This obligation is based on an employer’s general duty to act in the interest of its employees, including former employees.

So, basically, an employee (or ex employee) can sue their employer if the employer does not act in the best interests of an employee by failing to patent his/her invention.

Hmm, interesting.

Oh, forgot to mention. This is in Germany not the UK. In the UK the employer sues the employee if the employee patents his/her invention (see previous post)!

Bit different huh?

As different as our patent filing rates? In 2004 the filing rates were:

German patents = 22,044
UK patents = 4,791

And as different as our trade balances? In 2004 the trade balances (in dollars) were:

German trade surplus = $193bn
UK trade deficit = -$113bn

Sources: IPGeeK, The European Patent Office (PDF file) and the OECD (XL file)

Judges rule against employee inventor: “companies can breathe a sigh of relief”

Right, so companies can breathe a sigh of relief that our stupid 1977 patent act helps slavering fat-cat elites slam our innovation rate into the ground and ensure that “Britain will crumble into the dust” (© James Dyson, An Autobiography, Against the Odds, Orion Business 1998)?

Interestingly, in making a judgement, it transpires that a contract of employment is not worth the equivalent weight in bog paper because one’s terms and conditions evolve depending on ability i.e. if, God forbid, it turns out that an employee is “inventive” then sod the contract you were employed on; you have now evolved to a twilight state were the law of contract does not apply, and your employer can slither about snatching anything worth anything because it is now worth something.

Some have said, however, that companies should “still compensate for inventions that produce outstanding benefits” and that they need to think about the “psychology of the people they employ”.

True but, unfortunately, the 1977 patent act’s “outstanding benefit” clause (section 40) does not actually work – at no time since the introduction of this act (in 30 years) has any UK employee inventor ever won a case for reward for his/her £multi-billon wealth-generating idea. Not a single penny.

What about the “psychology” of this? What about the motivation to invent? Well, just look down; look at the facts and figures on this blog.

All hail British thief-market crapitalism – Adam Smith must be turning in his grave.

Sources: FT – Judges rule against employee inventor and IPKat

Gowers Review – UK’s patent application rate is “inordinately lower than that for other comparable economic areas".

No shit Andrew. Well done mate. You have stated what is blatantly obvious. Perhaps you are ready for the next step. Perhaps you are ready to find out why this is so?

Let me save you some time.

Every invention ever produced by innovators in the UK is stolen. Stolen by slavering spittle-flecked fat-cat greed freaks and common crooks. This is due to to the fact that our “government” thinks it is a good idea to allow the wealthy to steal from the talented. But, oops, it doesn’t quite work, eh? Our innovation rate is crashing.

Who the hell wants to produce something which is legally able to be stolen?

D minus – must do better.

I’ve got more to say about this.

EU competitors look to the UK with envy

Envy that they can’t persuade their other competitors to follow our example.














Source: The European Innovation Scoreboard 2005

Lying Hungarian government causes street riots

Hungarian police have used tear gas and water cannon to quell violent overnight protests in Budapest after citizens found out that their government was lying to them.

In other news, the UK government made it clear that our IP system is perfectly “fair” and “balanced”.

Lord Sainsbury – grocer and Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation

“The allocation of IP is both democratic and fair. Rights are not based on the size of the company or the popularity of an individual but on the quality of the invention or in the case of copyright, the creative input without prejudice to the perceived quality. So IP rewards an inventor in his garage or the composer in his bedroom as much as a big pharmaceutical company or a pop superstar. They are awarded the same rights and the same conditions and privileges.”

In yet more news, the truth sneaks out…

Mandy Haberman – successful inventor and member of the government’s Intellectual Property Advisory Committee (IPAC).

“I believe that the government, in actively encouraging people to patent their ideas and start their own businesses, is being irresponsible. It seems to me like encouraging people to jump off the edge of a cliff without a parachute. Either the system needs to be changed or there needs to be a support system to help independent inventors stand up to infringers without risking their homes and personal savings. It should not have to be a David and Goliath scenario where one side is comfortable in the knowledge that it holds all the power and financial resources.”

Sources: Innovating for Success (Lord Sainsbury) – IPPR and Mandy Haberman

UK inventors reap rich rewards

Rich as in: “boy, that’s one hell of a stink mate”.

Since the fair, balanced and neutral 1977 patent act came into being, not ONE SINGLE UK inventor has EVER won a case for compensation under the Act’s “outstanding benefit” clause (section 40).

Not one.

Not even a little one.

In 29 years.

In the words of Ricky Tomlinson: “fair and balanced my arse”.

Of course, these laws apply only to employee inventors. As an employee, inventors will benefit from other exciting opportunities:

1. the opportunity not to have your invention patented

2. the thrilling prospect of being gagged for the rest of your life (to be fair, it is only 3 years since I ceased to be employed by an “international pariah”, and in 20 or so years I may be able to talk about what I’ve achieved – maybe)

3. the joy of seeing your employer diminish your role – this one is particularly pleasurable

4. the warm feeling of knowing that your boss is being paid a big fat bonus for stealing your innovation

5. watching over privileged bureaucrats wasting your work, and being paid fat-cat salaries to do so.

6. listening to patent office staff telling you that this is perfectly normal, and you have no rights to benefit from your own creation

7. not being asked for your consent (or even being told) for a patent being raised with your name on it

8. listening to politicians constantly banging on about a “fair” society and “social justice”.

9. finding out that the 1999 Access to Justice Act DENIES access to justice

10 living in poverty (again, to be fair, your kids will be entitled to free powdered milk)

11. having your contract of employment ignored by your employer, the law and the “the Lords of property their paid liars and bumsuckers”.

So, British inventors, go to it. You are a HUGE benefit to your country.

Funding for independent inventors removed

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) has suspended all funding activities. NESTA is developing a “new five year strategy” and as a result all current “programs and funding streams are suspended”. NESTA is “not able to process applications or offer any further information”.

Well, short and sweet and JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH NESTA!!!

As far as I can tell this little bombshell occurred on 13 April 06. This, obviously, is a bit of a disaster for independent inventors. The one non-traditional alternative source of funding has new been eliminated. And what about consultation or notice? None of either, it seems!

Vague promises of “check the website in October (ish)” don’t really cut any mustard. If they can leave everyone in the lurch without any notice how can trust be placed in future decisions and promises. NESTA promised to fund people who could not get funding through traditional means. They have now, at the drop of a hat, reneged on this promise. How can anyone trust them again? Inventors in the UK are bombarded on every side by bad laws, thieves, liars, institutional greed and slimy psychopaths, and now the one organisation who was (supposedly) on their side has let them down.

I think someone has some explaining to do.

Link: NESTA suspends funding activities

What happens when crooks are allowed to steal from inventors?

The Access to Justice Act 1999 removed legal funding for intellectual property cases.

The following chart highlights the UK’s international PCT patent performance.


Source: World Intellectual Property Organisation Statistics

Move along now. Nothing to see here.

Cosy environment for UK R&D investment

Cosy for bankers and venture capitalists!


Source: The Guardian

It also appears that the dividend to R&D ratio is twice as high for Britain than for competitor countries – ah, a cosy environment for shareholders as well then.

Remarkable legal support for UK inventors

So I’ll remark upon it.

It has been decided to remove from the scope of legal aid various categories such as civil contract law. The 1999 Access to Justice Act [sic] removes entitlement of state funding for certain categories of civil cases.

The result? A decline in the number of people being represented (39%), and a decline of the number of people receiving legal help (45%).

Similarly, the Civil Funding Code 2000 removed representation from the scope of legal aid in many “general contract” cases. This has also resulted in a decline of legal aid. A reduction of over 90% spend since 2000-1.

Hmm…I wonder how this affects independent inventors? Does it mean crooks can steal inventions and get away with it? Does it mean only the rich have access to the law? Does it encourage IP theft?

Funny how this hasn’t been reported in the national press, eh?

Well, apart from:

A not very happy new year for freedom and the rule of law - Marcel Berlins Monday January 2, 2006

"The other big scandal of the year will be the further inability of people with valid legal problems and justified grievances to get access to justice."

Sources: A Fairer Deal for Legal Aid (PDF) and The Guardian

WOW – I’ve just read the Lambert Review

So, Mr Lambert lambastes the performance of British universities claiming they are falling behind our global competitors (IP and innovation), tells us universities such at MIT and Stanford are far superior, expresses support for the very system which we follow and they don’t, and then finishes by criticising other countries for not following our lead sooner – blinding!!!

Read it - The Lambert Review (PDF file)

Gordon Brown orders review of UK’s IP laws

Gordon Brown will ask Andrew Gowers to review the IP framework in the UK, it has been announced.

Hi Andy, we’ll speak soon…I promise.

Britain excels in motivating inventors

Motivating them not to invent anything.


Sources: The European Patent Office (PDF file) and Nationmaster (US Census Bureau, Population Division, International Programs Center)

Last again…ho hum.

Britain continues exceptional patent performance

Exceptionally bad performance.


Source: The European Patent Office (PDF file)

Oh for the wings...

UK’s PCT patent share increases massively

And here is the proof:


Source: The British Library

Umm…is this chart upside down???

Why do we need inventors in the UK?

Oh we don't. Can't have all those creative types spoiling the established order now can we?

I know, let's make sure the laws in the UK favour the thieves and crooks; make sure if any of the little buggers come up with anything useful it will be stolen. Stolen by us.

Good idea - go for it.