[d@DCC] Patent Office Practices on software and business model patents.

From: Russell McOrmond <russell _-at-_ flora.ca>
To: General Copyright Discussions <discuss (at) digital-copyright.ca>
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 15:37:40 -0400 (EDT)

  I was contemplating doing an ATIP request for Chapter 26 of Manual of
Patent Office Practices drafted for the review of computer implemented
inventions and business methods.  The following reply from the ATIP office
suggests that this is not possible or necessary as the information will be
publicly published by the department in October.

See: 

Manual of Patent Office Practice
1998 Edition
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/patents/mopop/mopop-e.html

Review of Software Patent Issues
http://www.flora.ca/patent2003/

Email address removed from the following letter to reduce SPAM/etc.  
Published online with permission.

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 Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/> 
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 13:09:26 -0400
From: Tara Rapley
Subject: Question that was not answered by ATIP FAQ

Hello Russell,

Your recent correspondence was passed along to me to answer.  You were
inquiring as to whether there are restrictions on publication of materials
released under the Access to Information Act.  The government has never
restricted the circulation or publication of materials released under the
Act, as long as the reproduction is accurate and is identified as
originating from the Government of Canada.

In this particular instance, however, the Access to Information route may
not be the most effective.  I have spoken with the Cdn Intellectual Property
Office, and they have informed me that the chapter you are looking for will
be circulated to patent agents (through IPIC) next month and will be
published on our website in October.  Pursuant to Section 26 of the Access
to Information Act, the department does not provide access to materials with
are less than 90 days from publication.

If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you!

Tara Rapley
Senior Advisor
Information & Privacy Rights Administration
Industry Canada

[RWM edit: Telephone/Fax/Email available from Government Electronic
Directory Services http://direct.srv.gc.ca/ ]
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