Dickinson says the number of computer-related patent applications has skyrocketed 250 percent during the Clinton administration. Networking and Internet-related patent applications have risen 700 percent during the same period. In 1998, the PTO handled 58,000 technology-related patent applications. Each application takes about 14 months to process, but the PTO hopes to reduce that time by half. They are very well educated.
Some companies stockpile patents as an arsenal against competitors' patent infringement lawsuits.
Some attorneys and activists fear that smaller high-tech businesses won't be able to afford the costly litigation required to enforce or challenge patents and survive corporate warfare. Yet it's unclear just how profitable some patents can be. Companies such as Open Market haven't said how many licensees they have to date. Open Market is working with its attorneys to develop a licensing strategy, said spokeswoman Beth Winkowski. She declined to comment on whether the company has secured any licenses, citing nondisclosure agreements.