Are bitcoin and blockchain patents good or bad? Should everything based on the major bitcoin and blockchain technologies be public domain? What is your take on the blockchain/cryptocurrency patent situation? Does steemit have patents? What about Wildspark or Synereo? Are they all working on patents too?
Will patents encourage blockchain and cryptocurrency inovations? Or will patents stifle innovation in this field?
https://news.bitcoin.com/things-bitcoin-companies-try-to-patent/ reports:
"Because Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin white paper and disappeared shortly after releasing the early versions of the digital currency, Bitcoin is part of the public domain (Should everything based on the major bitcoin and blockchain technologies be public domain?). Only novel additions, variations, and use-cases might be patented around the technology. A search of the United States Patent and Trademark Office database reveals 148 patents which mention the term bitcoin."
So yes, there are patents coming on down the line! Do any of the patents in the article look cool to you?:
https://news.bitcoin.com/things-bitcoin-companies-try-to-patent/
"A rush to patent the blockchain is a sign of the technology’s promise
Financial firms and assorted startups are rushing to patent the technology that underlies bitcoin"
https://news.bitcoin.com/things-bitcoin-companies-try-to-patent/ reports:
"San Francisco-based exchange Coinbase has filed several applications, including a patent for a “security system forming part of a bitcoin host computer.”
Enjoy some of my photography!
Coinbase also filed a patent for a “computer system for making a payment using a tip button.” The application describes a system by which “bitcoin can be sent to an email address, ” and a “tip button rewards content creators for their efforts.” Also described is a bitcoin exchange enabling “users to set prices that they are willing to sell or buy bitcoin and execute such trades.” Coinbase has numerous patents filed globally."
What is your take on this?
http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/bitcoin-wright-patents/ reports:
"Bitcoin’s “creator” races to patent technology with gambling tycoon By Byron Kaye and Jeremy Wagstaff Filed March 2, 2017, 10:15 a.m. GMT A computer scientist and an online gambling fugitive have joined forces in a land grab for intellectual property related to bitcoin and blockchain."
Some patents have already been granted: https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/att-gains-patent-bitcoin-based-subscriber-server/ "AT&T Granted Patent for Bitcoin-Powered Subscriber Server Device: US telecommunications giant AT&T has been awarded a patent for a bitcoin-powered ‘decentralized and distributed home subscriber server’ device.
According to records from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), AT&T filed its first patent application over two years ago on April 6, 2015, before ultimately being awarded the patent on May 30th."
Here is some cool insight on the matter: https://www.dlapiper.com/en/canada/insights/publications/2017/05/patents-on-the-blockchain/ reports "Patents on the blockchain - Bitcoin and beyond. . . What types of patent applications are being filed?
Because much of the technology behind blockchain has been publicly disclosed, and much relates to e-commerce and finance, a topical question is: Is it possible to obtain a patent on a new and non-obvious blockchain innovation or implementation?"
Looks like many more blockchain patents are on the way!
https://www.coindesk.com/rate-blockchain-patent-applications-nearly-doubled-2017/
"The Rate of Blockchain Patent Applications Has Nearly Doubled in 2017"
What is your take on the blockchain/cryptocurrency patent situation? Does steemit have patents? What about Wildspark or Synereo? Are they all working on patents too?
Should everything based on the major bitcoin and blockchain technologies be public domain?