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The Copyright Designs and Patents Act defines patents for computer hardware and software, and copyright on software.
Mark Dean is credited with inventing the personal computer. He holds at least 20 patents, including three of the original patents IBM had for the personal computer.
They have many patents relating to computers and electronics. They also have some more surprising patents in areas like advertising, medical, and vehicles. A lot of their patents relate to their search engines and smart phone technology.
They have patents in many different industries from the obvious web authoring, wireless, and email patents to the not-so-obvious patents in medical, vehicle, and weight loss. Some patents include, but are not limited to, IBM, The Weather Channel Inc., Nevengineering Inc., Wildtangent Inc., and Disney Enterprises Inc.
Knut Blind has written: 'Software patents' -- subject(s): High technology industries, Economic aspects, Intellectual property (International law), Patents, Computer software
H.-Joachim Tesmer has written: 'The US patent advantage' -- subject(s): Computer software, Patent laws and legislation, Patents, Business method patents
They use the patents to do just that, they input patents so the firms that are already in the market continue without competition. Depending on the situation government officials can be paid off to input these patents so firms in the current market can continue their oligopoly.
ttyl
99,220, including utility patents, plant patents, design patents, and reissues.
... are unenforceable... There are some patents that expire in less than 20 years and some that expire in more than 20 years, depending upon what you're trying to ask.
none
The US Patent Office issued 99,200 total patents from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1990, including 9 reissue patents, 6 plant patents, 194 design patents, and 98,991 utility patents.