WO2005022287A2 - Business method: protecting jokes - Google Patents
Business method: protecting jokes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2005022287A2 WO2005022287A2 PCT/IB2004/002736 IB2004002736W WO2005022287A2 WO 2005022287 A2 WO2005022287 A2 WO 2005022287A2 IB 2004002736 W IB2004002736 W IB 2004002736W WO 2005022287 A2 WO2005022287 A2 WO 2005022287A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- joke
- patent application
- jokes
- application
- filing
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 34
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q90/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
- G06Q50/10—Services
- G06Q50/18—Legal services
- G06Q50/184—Intellectual property management
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a novel business method. More particularly, it relates to a method of protecting novel jokes, and to jokes that may be so protected.
- the present invention proposes a way of procuring protection for a new joke, which comprises filing a patent application therefor defining the novel features thereof.
- the patent application and any resulting patent is maintained (e.g., by refraining from all acts that would result in its abandonment, by requesting publication, by prosecution, preferably to grant, by defending oppositions, by paying maintenance and renewal fees, and so on. It is preferred to mark the joke with the patent application number, when the joke is published in fixed form.
- the invention comprises a method of licensing protected jokes, which comprises filing a patent application for a new joke, and offering licenses for use of the joke,
- the invention comprises novel jokes for protection by the process of the invention.
- the present invention provides an answer to a long-felt need, namely that of obtaining proper protection for jokes. It is known from the prior art to file patent applications which are ftirtny, intentionally or otherwise (it is not always easy to tell which) .
- the present invention has more than one aspect. It includes: the process of protecting new jokes by filing patent applications thereon; and the novel jokes disclosed in the examples. More specifically it includes the particular joke which is the idea or concept of filing this particular patent application (self- reference) .
- An essential feature of the invention is the filing of a patent application characterising the novel joke, defining the novel feature, or combination of features, thereof. It is preferred to prosecute the patent application at least to publication, and if possible to grant. However, these are not essential aspects. Filing of a patent application constitutes a claim to exclusive rights, and such rights may be licensed even if not certainly valid.
- patents for inventions relating to 'business methods' may be granted by the US Patent Office, the Australian Patent Office and probably by other Patent Offices, for example the Japanese Patent Office. They are typically refused by the European Patent Office.
- this illiberal practice will change: as noted above, the tendency, in the European Patent Office and elsewhere, is continually to widen the categories of patentability.
- the joke having been conceived, is reduced to practice.
- the witness to conception understands the joke, and preferably laughs, the act of witnessing the conception may constitute reduction to practice of the joke (except in the case of practical jokes, see below) . If not, it may be necessary to tell the joke to an audience. However, if it is desired to protect the joke outside the USA, the audience must be under an obligation of confidence, otherwise the disclosure to the audience may deprive the joke of novelty and render it unprotectable.
- the invention further contemplates the exercise of diligence in reducing the joke to practice following conception, but, as noted, in most circumstances the witnessing of conception will constitute reduction to practice. Jokes according to the invention may be recited or (in some cases) rehearsed.
- Jokes may be recorded in print or other permanent or semi-permanent media. It is particularly preferred according the invention to record novel jokes on computer systems (for example, the Internet) or computer-readable media (floppy discs, CDs, DVDs and the like) , not only for convenience in dissemination, but also because such media may be easier to protect under European patent jurisprudence .
- Royalties may be collected, from a willing licensee, from the date of publication of the patent application: and licensees may be encouraged to sign up willingly by offering differential royalty rates: for example, preferential royalties may be offered to those prepared to pay now. An added inducement would be the offer to return part of the royalties paid in the event of the patent not ultimately being granted.
- Rosenthal & Co 1 RPC p29, at p.33 - 1884]). It may be an improvement or embellishment or adaptation, e.g. updating, of a known joke type. It may take the form of an anecdote, a pun, a wisecrack, irony, a 'shaggy dog story', a cartoon. It may be a joke that carries aft existing tendency to an unreasonable limit (reductio ad educaum) .
- Jokes may be self-referential or recursive: for example the well known: "It was a dark and stormy night: and the captain said to the mate: ' Antonio, tell us a story!' And thus the mate began: 'It was a dark and stormy night.. " [etc.] ...
- a particularly preferred form of joke is one in which the intentions of the teller are uncertain: is the intention humorous or serious, or both?
- the invention envisages both verbal (including oral) jokes and visual jokes, e.g., cartoons, drawings; or they may be practical jokes.
- Jokes have various functions and utilities. The main function of a joke is to amuse. However, in many situations a joke has additional utilities. Thus a joke may be told to put an audience at ease, to attract attention (as in humorous advertisements), to point a moral (didactic or campaigning jokes) or to fix a point in the audience's memory. Jokes may be used in selling or in fund-raising, e.g., for political or charitable ends.
- Jokes vary in tone and subject-matter. Not all are equally acceptable, though acceptability may depend on the circumstances. Jokes about sex or bodily functions ('dirty jokes') are included within the scope of the invention, as are politically incorrect jokes, e.g., critic and sexist jokes. Such jokes, according to the invention, may find application as acceptable or marginally acceptable 'black humour' for use in certain circumstances: they may also serve a didactic function. However, it is preferred according to the invention that protected jokes should not be such as to cause significant offence to any sector of society. Where jokes are capable of causing offence, it is a preferred feature of the invention to provide a warning of their nature so that exposure to them can if desired be avoided.
- Example 1 illustrates the invention in several different aspects.
- a known 'shaggy dog' story relates to a cricket-playing horse.
- the anecdote concerns two village cricket teams, one of whom is a player short.
- the visiting team asks a horse in a neighbouring field if he is willing to help them out.
- the horse is at first reluctant, claiming to be out of practice, but is eventually persuaded.
- the visiting side wins the toss and elects to bat.
- the horse modestly asks to be put in lower down the order, and is chosen to go in sixth wicket down, after the team's recognised batsmen.
- the recognised batsmen have a hard time, and, when the horse comes in, six wickets are down for 25 runs.
- Example 2 The invention in its second aspect is practised as follows.
- a UK patent application for an invention accompanied by a specification describing the joke of Example 1 (among others) was filed in the UK Patent Office on 30 August 2003, being allotted the official reference GB0320419.5.
- the invention is the joke as set forth in Example 1, and was characterised by claims defining it as a joke in which the humour derives from accounts of exceptional but partial skill of animals (preferably large mammals or birds) in sports involving spheroidal projectiles, in which the punch-line relies on alliteration.
- the patent application is maintained. Search and examination are requested.
- the patent application is allowed to publish.
- the invention further comprises a kit of parts for rehearsing this joke, including at least one (preferably at least two) display placards for motivating passengers to hire dogs, at least one set of instructions explaining to operators how to rehearse the joke, a plurality of dogs, and at least one (preferably at least two) retaining means for retaining dogs prior to or after hiring.
- the retaining means may comprise a massive body with anchoring means (such as a post, rail or ring) to which leashes may be demountably attached.
- the retaining means may be a container, for example a plastic bin or bag. Collecting boxes are a further optional feature of the kit.
- Example 4 The invention in its other aspect is practised as follows: A UK patent application for the invention, accompanied by a specification describing ( inter alia) the joke of Example 3, was filed in the UK Patent Office on 30 August 2003.
- the invention is the joke as set forth in Example 3.
- the joke was characterised by claims defining it as follows: "In a locus in which the behaviour of the public is subject to a promulgated rule intended to be conditional, the joke which comprises misinterpreting the rule as absolute, and providing means for enabling the public to conform to the rule so misinterpreted.” Subclaims specified that the locus is a public transport system, that the means is provided ' against consideration, and that at least part of that consideration is stated to be devoted to charitable causes. Further actions to protect the joke are taken as described in Example 1 above.
- Example 5 This example relates to a practical joke that is self- referential, and may have commercial applications. It consists in the filing of a patent application to protect the method of protecting jokes by filing one or more patent applications thereon. The invention so defined is protected by filing and prosecuting the patent application referred to in Examples 2 and 4, and one or more other applications claiming priority therefrom.
- the joke may be either recited or rehearsed, though repeated rehearsal may be pointless once the joke becomes public knowledge, unless the priority of the initial rehearsal can be claimed.
- Example 7 is an example of a joke that may be protected by the process of Claim 1) , but further specific applications of the concept are not necessarily funny.
Landscapes
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Technology Law (AREA)
- Tourism & Hospitality (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Economics (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Primary Health Care (AREA)
- Marketing (AREA)
- Operations Research (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- Human Resources & Organizations (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
- Housing For Livestock And Birds (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/569,506 US20060259306A1 (en) | 2003-08-30 | 2004-08-24 | Business method protecting jokes |
AU2004268258A AU2004268258A1 (en) | 2003-08-30 | 2004-08-24 | Business method: protecting jokes |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0320419.5A GB0320419D0 (en) | 2003-08-30 | 2003-08-30 | Business method |
GB0320419.5 | 2003-08-30 | ||
GB0407439.9 | 2004-04-01 | ||
GBGB0407439.9A GB0407439D0 (en) | 2003-08-30 | 2004-04-01 | Business method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2005022287A2 true WO2005022287A2 (en) | 2005-03-10 |
Family
ID=34276815
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IB2004/002736 WO2005022287A2 (en) | 2003-08-30 | 2004-08-24 | Business method: protecting jokes |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060259306A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2004268258A1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB0320419D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005022287A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2453318A (en) * | 2007-09-03 | 2009-04-08 | Idan Zuta | Method and system for authoring a patent application |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002037344A1 (en) * | 2000-10-23 | 2002-05-10 | Pctfiler Holdings Pty Ltd | System and method of attracting and lodging pct national phase applications |
AU2006243825B2 (en) * | 2005-05-03 | 2009-03-26 | Inovia Holdings Pty Ltd | Computer system for distributing a validatlon instruction message |
-
2003
- 2003-08-30 GB GBGB0320419.5A patent/GB0320419D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2004
- 2004-04-01 GB GBGB0407439.9A patent/GB0407439D0/en not_active Ceased
- 2004-08-24 AU AU2004268258A patent/AU2004268258A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-08-24 WO PCT/IB2004/002736 patent/WO2005022287A2/en active Application Filing
- 2004-08-24 US US10/569,506 patent/US20060259306A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2453318A (en) * | 2007-09-03 | 2009-04-08 | Idan Zuta | Method and system for authoring a patent application |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0407439D0 (en) | 2004-05-05 |
AU2004268258A1 (en) | 2005-03-10 |
US20060259306A1 (en) | 2006-11-16 |
GB0320419D0 (en) | 2003-10-01 |
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