On Thu, Jul 15, 2004 at 08:43:13AM -0700, Ted Gould wrote:
> Apparently, the money that is payed to get a patent reviews becomes
> 'income' for the government, and so congress can allocated it as they
> wish.

I believe it was in the 1980's that Congress declared that the PTO
should be self-sufficient.  Since then, the salaries of the examiners
are paid by the fees.  This puts the entire office in a conflict of
interest.  Further, as you pointed out, any money brought in above and
beyond their budget is put in the general fund, so they can't even spend
it on hiring more examiners.

The whole system stinks, and not just for software.  Software (and
business method) patents are probably the worst offenders, though.

-- 
Bill Jonas    *    bill@billjonas.com    *    http://www.billjonas.com/
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your front door.  You step
into the Road,  and if you don't keep your feet,  there  is  no knowing
where you might be swept off to."  --  Bilbo Baggins