On Tue, 20 Feb 2001, T.S. Lim wrote:
> Suppose you've created a new algorithm, formula, test, graphical
>display or other statistical innovations. Would you consider patenting it?
At a risk of being accused of flouting allstat conventions, let me jump
in and give a definitive answer on this: you can not patent an idea or an
algorithm. A patent protects a physical product that embodies an
innovation.
As an example of how this works in practice, let me comment that I have
three times made approaches to the Met Office and the BBC to ask for an
explanation (a decoding) of the wind arrows used on BBC weather maps. You
may have noticed that the arrows vary in size, shape (length/width &
curvature), direction, spacing, grouping and colour. The only factual
answer received to date was to state that the algorithm for drawing them
was commercially confidential. Fine, but that was not the question. What
is the point of broadcasting "information" but refusing to state what the
viewer is expected to make of it?
Comments on wind arrows to me please. Comments on intellectual property
rights to Mr Lim; there is some information on the JISC web site
www.jisc.ac.uk
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