What will happen if blockchain tech is patented?

Hazir

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Quote from: MingLee on July 24, 2016, 07:22:57 PM

Quote from: groll on July 20, 2016, 01:23:39 AM

Quote from: Hazir on June 21, 2016, 12:54:55 AM

I stumbled upon this article https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/bitcoin-craig-wright-blockchain-technology/

Apparently Craig Wright 'bitcoin creator' is looking to patent Blockchain technology:

"It looks like he is trying to patent the fundamental building blocks of any blockchain, cryptocurrency, or distributed ledger system."

I am not trying to say that he should/shouldn't do it or if he has/hasn't right to do it. I am not trying to prove that he is/isn't Satoshi either.

My question is: what will happen to bitcoin if he (or somebody else) actually somehow manage to patent blockchain tech?

If he patenst bitcoin then we will have someone to blame if bitcoin falls down. But there are no worries in someone patenting bitcoin. Even he has the patent it is hard to collect all bitcoin from all bitcoin users. There will be no changes on bitcoin transactions but the only thing that will get an issue are the other cryptocurrencies that copied bitcoins.

There is no way he will be able to patent the technology if he hasn't already chosen to. Unless he's playing an amazing long-con and he's going to snipe everyone with a patent once Bitcoin goes beyond $2,000 or whatever, I would be surprised if he has the capacity to patent anything.

I personally wouldn't worry about it, I doubt there is anyone who would be able to prove that they developed the blockchain.

Patenting in US and UK it is not about proving that you are the inventor anymore. It is about showing first at the door of the patent office screaming - I did it.
And is in theory might be a huge problem if Craig will back up his claims with enough of old stuff he pulls from the past.

MingLee

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Quote from: groll on July 20, 2016, 01:23:39 AM

Quote from: Hazir on June 21, 2016, 12:54:55 AM

I stumbled upon this article https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/bitcoin-craig-wright-blockchain-technology/

Apparently Craig Wright 'bitcoin creator' is looking to patent Blockchain technology:

"It looks like he is trying to patent the fundamental building blocks of any blockchain, cryptocurrency, or distributed ledger system."

I am not trying to say that he should/shouldn't do it or if he has/hasn't right to do it. I am not trying to prove that he is/isn't Satoshi either.

My question is: what will happen to bitcoin if he (or somebody else) actually somehow manage to patent blockchain tech?

If he patenst bitcoin then we will have someone to blame if bitcoin falls down. But there are no worries in someone patenting bitcoin. Even he has the patent it is hard to collect all bitcoin from all bitcoin users. There will be no changes on bitcoin transactions but the only thing that will get an issue are the other cryptocurrencies that copied bitcoins.

There is no way he will be able to patent the technology if he hasn't already chosen to. Unless he's playing an amazing long-con and he's going to snipe everyone with a patent once Bitcoin goes beyond $2,000 or whatever, I would be surprised if he has the capacity to patent anything.

I personally wouldn't worry about it, I doubt there is anyone who would be able to prove that they developed the blockchain.

countryfree

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Quote from: JPage on June 21, 2016, 04:08:49 AM

Quote from: tertius993 on June 21, 2016, 03:59:43 AM

That application could not be pending today anywhere in the EU nor in Australia because those places DEMAND that pending applications be published. However, in the US one can have a patent pending for over 10 years and there would be no mention of it publically. You are allowed to have a patent application held from publication until the patent is granted, in the US only.

*'New' here means about 10 years ago they changed.

There are so many patents which are pending, I would not be surprised that there's one from Craig Wright cooking somewhere, published or not. Who would have noticed?

I think most people's assumptions that M.Wright would try to use his patent to control BTC is wrong. I'm pretty sure he owns quite many of them, so he won't risk his investment. It's more likely he will try to make a money if a bank, or some other large corporation builds its own blockchain. There's much more to gain, this way...

groll

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Quote from: Hazir on June 21, 2016, 12:54:55 AM

I stumbled upon this article https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/bitcoin-craig-wright-blockchain-technology/

Apparently Craig Wright 'bitcoin creator' is looking to patent Blockchain technology:

"It looks like he is trying to patent the fundamental building blocks of any blockchain, cryptocurrency, or distributed ledger system."

I am not trying to say that he should/shouldn't do it or if he has/hasn't right to do it. I am not trying to prove that he is/isn't Satoshi either.

My question is: what will happen to bitcoin if he (or somebody else) actually somehow manage to patent blockchain tech?

If he patenst bitcoin then we will have someone to blame if bitcoin falls down. But there are no worries in someone patenting bitcoin. Even he has the patent it is hard to collect all bitcoin from all bitcoin users. There will be no changes on bitcoin transactions but the only thing that will get an issue are the other cryptocurrencies that copied bitcoins.

mrblockchain

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Interesting.

It's assumed that Craig Wright owned the domain Blockchain and currently owns the .net and .org. Guess it's unsurprising he would try to patent it.

pandalion98

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Quote from: Whosdaddy on June 22, 2016, 01:11:02 PM

Quote from: Hazir on June 21, 2016, 12:54:55 AM

I stumbled upon this article https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/bitcoin-craig-wright-blockchain-technology/

Apparently Craig Wright 'bitcoin creator' is looking to patent Blockchain technology:

"It looks like he is trying to patent the fundamental building blocks of any blockchain, cryptocurrency, or distributed ledger system."

I am not trying to say that he should/shouldn't do it or if he has/hasn't right to do it. I am not trying to prove that he is/isn't Satoshi either.

My question is: what will happen to bitcoin if he (or somebody else) actually somehow manage to patent blockchain tech?

I believe only Satoshi can get the patent of Blockchain technology. We believe Satoshi has created Blockchain.

Well Blockchain is a open source if anyone try to get patient then it will not be no more available to all. If someone get patent then whole Blockchain technology will lead to many collapses. Hope this will not happen for god's sake...

The problem is no one really knows who Satoshi is. Anyone could claim to be Satoshi and patent the blockchain tech he created.

Unless of course he/she provides "extraordinary proof". Maybe a PGP sig, provided he/she still has the privkey.

severaldetails

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Quote from: JPage on June 21, 2016, 04:37:31 AM

Quote from: severaldetails on June 21, 2016, 04:27:04 AM

From all I have read, the blockchain technology itself is not going to be patented.
Just certain things (whatever they are) related to the blockchain technology.

And I do not yet understand how a patent in UK can have much influence on bitcoin.
How does a patent filed in one country can influence other countries?
Aren't that seperated systems?

It is true that a patent in the UK can only be enforced in the UK. The very new 'European community patent' will be enforceable in all EU nations. If I had a UK patent on blockchain - I'd be able to put some serious hurt on UK companies. But I agree with you, there will be no 'foundation patent' on blockchain. Lots of patents are coming for ancillary ideas attached to blockchain, you can see the US applications and patent every Tuesday and every Thursday here http://blockchain-ip.com/NewPatents and here http://blockchain-ip.com/NewApplications . But there most likely will not be any core patent as I too don't believe Craig Wright beat the white paper. I have to believe that the white paper excludes any true blockchain patent. I haven't been wrong about what Craig Wright says so far.

So, now we have the brexit. What does that mean to this whole patent stuff?
The patents filed in britain will (when the brexit has taken place in about two years) no longer be part of European community patent, right?
So the brexit might be considered to be a big loss for this whole patent plan of Wright?

Whosdaddy

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Quote from: Hazir on June 21, 2016, 12:54:55 AM

I stumbled upon this article https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/bitcoin-craig-wright-blockchain-technology/

Apparently Craig Wright 'bitcoin creator' is looking to patent Blockchain technology:

"It looks like he is trying to patent the fundamental building blocks of any blockchain, cryptocurrency, or distributed ledger system."

I am not trying to say that he should/shouldn't do it or if he has/hasn't right to do it. I am not trying to prove that he is/isn't Satoshi either.

My question is: what will happen to bitcoin if he (or somebody else) actually somehow manage to patent blockchain tech?

I believe only Satoshi can get the patent of Blockchain technology. We believe Satoshi has created Blockchain.

Well Blockchain is a open source if anyone try to get patient then it will not be no more available to all. If someone get patent then whole Blockchain technology will lead to many collapses. Hope this will not happen for god's sake...

CIYAM

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Quote from: JPage on June 21, 2016, 11:52:19 AM

...describe something that relates to blockchain but is new and never before seen in public, you can have a patent on that thing.

What would you say to code on github (i.e. would it be considered legit as an authority of publication)?

JPage

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Quote from: TheRedDevil on June 21, 2016, 10:49:38 AM

Nothing like that gonna happen anytime soon. Craig Wright is just trying to do another publicity stunt. Further you cannot add a patent to a block-chain technology. It will be real hard to even put everything aspect on paper to start with.

You most certainly can add a patent to a blockchain technology. Just so the thing you are describing is new. You must be presenting something that has never been done before. He doesn't get a patent on the blockchain, he gets a patent on the new thing described. Just because he mentions that word 'blockchain' doesn't mean he'd have a patent on the blockchain. But the new stuff, the stuff never before seen in public, he could get a patent on that.

His patents were all filed THIS YEAR. That is very late. Everything that was known prior to the filing date, will not be patented. But, to the extent he explains something new that has not been talked about in public he could still get a patent even if it relates to blockchain. You can too. If you describe something that relates to blockchain but is new and never before seen in public, you can have a patent on that thing.

TheRedDevil

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Nothing like that gonna happen anytime soon. Craig Wright is just trying to do another publicity stunt. Further you cannot add a patent to a block-chain technology. It will be real hard to even put everything aspect on paper to start with.

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He will have a tough time in court trying to go up against the other people, who already started patent applications on the technology. They will have to go back and see what part was patented and who was first. The evil side in me wants someone like him to succeed, but I always root for the bad guys in movies. ^smile^ It is either him or the banks.

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A new altcoin will be born, and that coin will control the system. That coin would have a big amount of price, but no one would use it.

JPage

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Quote from: severaldetails on June 21, 2016, 04:27:04 AM

From all I have read, the blockchain technology itself is not going to be patented.
Just certain things (whatever they are) related to the blockchain technology.

And I do not yet understand how a patent in UK can have much influence on bitcoin.
How does a patent filed in one country can influence other countries?
Aren't that seperated systems?

It is true that a patent in the UK can only be enforced in the UK. The very new 'European community patent' will be enforceable in all EU nations. If I had a UK patent on blockchain - I'd be able to put some serious hurt on UK companies. But I agree with you, there will be no 'foundation patent' on blockchain. Lots of patents are coming for ancillary ideas attached to blockchain, you can see the US applications and patent every Tuesday and every Thursday here http://blockchain-ip.com/NewPatents and here http://blockchain-ip.com/NewApplications . But there most likely will not be any core patent as I too don't believe Craig Wright beat the white paper. I have to believe that the white paper excludes any true blockchain patent. I haven't been wrong about what Craig Wright says so far.

severaldetails

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From all I have read, the blockchain technology itself is not going to be patented.
Just certain things (whatever they are) related to the blockchain technology.

And I do not yet understand how a patent in UK can have much influence on bitcoin.
How does a patent filed in one country can influence other countries?
Aren't that seperated systems?

JPage

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Quote from: CryptoBjorn on June 21, 2016, 04:14:24 AM

If I am not wrong anoter company/person already patented bitcoin some time ago.
But how can you make a patent that's been there for 7 years?

In any other sector then crypto coins you can force companies to pay you a fee, since you hold a patent, but for crypto coins (there are over a 1000 now) nothing will change.

Pretty sure you've got that wrong. At least no one knows about any patent issued as you describe. Maybe you are confusing it with a Trademark or domain name registration for 'Bitcoin' both of which has in fact been done. But domain names and trademarks are very, VERY different than patents.

Quote from: CIYAM on June 21, 2016, 04:14:00 AM

Quote from: JPage on June 21, 2016, 04:08:49 AM

However, you got something wrong. In both countries, you can't file for a patent AFTER something is already released in public. However, in this discussion we are assuming Craig Wright went to the patent office before blockchain was made public (ie. via Satoshi's white paper). If the patent were filed by Craig Wright before the technology was introduced publically, that patent application may still be pending today.

What's the bet that Craig went and found an old computer he had lying around dating back to say 2005 and has been creating his patent documentation on that (since last month) and will say "look patent guys this document was written using Office 2000 so it *most* be legit". Cheesy

(he did manage to fool Gavin it seems - so it might just work)

Wouldn't matter. You've got to actually file in the patent office. Showing an 'old' document does nothing at all. Ironically, in the old system 'first in invent', showing an old document DID matter. That is in fact why they changed the rule because any old kook could just try to backdate a lab book. Now, you actually have to file in the patent office, old lab books don't matter.

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If I am not wrong anoter company/person already patented bitcoin some time ago.
But how can you make a patent that's been there for 7 years?

In any other sector then crypto coins you can force companies to pay you a fee, since you hold a patent, but for crypto coins (there are over a 1000 now) nothing will change.

CIYAM

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Quote from: JPage on June 21, 2016, 04:08:49 AM

However, you got something wrong. In both countries, you can't file for a patent AFTER something is already released in public. However, in this discussion we are assuming Craig Wright went to the patent office before blockchain was made public (ie. via Satoshi's white paper). If the patent were filed by Craig Wright before the technology was introduced publically, that patent application may still be pending today.

What's the bet that Craig went and found an old computer he had lying around dating back to say 2005 and has been creating his patent documentation on that (since last month) and will say "look patent guys this document was written using Office 2000 so it *most* be legit". Cheesy

(he did manage to fool Gavin it seems - so it might just work)

JPage

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Quote from: tertius993 on June 21, 2016, 03:59:43 AM

I am not a patent lawyer, though I know several, it may be worth noting that JPage seems to be referring to the US system, which only has US territorial jurisdiction. Based on my understanding I very much doubt if, for example, the U.K. Patent office would award a patent for something with published prior art like the blockchain technology.

Actually, the new* US rules about 'first to file' were changed to be the same at the UK. So now, both countries are the same.

However, you got something wrong. In both countries, you can't file for a patent AFTER something is already released in public. However, in this discussion we are assuming Craig Wright went to the patent office before blockchain was made public (ie. via Satoshi's white paper). If the patent were filed by Craig Wright before the technology was introduced publically, that patent application may still be pending today.

That application could not be pending today anywhere in the EU nor in Australia because those places DEMAND that pending applications be published. However, in the US one can have a patent pending for over 10 years and there would be no mention of it publically. You are allowed to have a patent application held from publication until the patent is granted, in the US only.

*'New' here means about 10 years ago they changed.

tertius993

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I am not a patent lawyer, though I know several, it may be worth noting that JPage seems to be referring to the US system, which only has US territorial jurisdiction. Based on my understanding I very much doubt if, for example, the U.K. Patent office would award a patent for something with published prior art like the blockchain technology.

Topic: What will happen if blockchain tech is patented? (Read 1481 times)