Welcome to the [[http://osapa.org|Open Source as Prior Art]] Project Wiki.

If you want to help please join the [[https://www.linuxfoundation.org/programs/legal/osapa|mailing list]] and/or contribute to this wiki: [[:osapa:things_that_can_be_done_right_now| Things that can be done right now ]]

======  Introduction ======

The topic of this Project is: **Open Source as Prior Art** (should probably be renamed to **FLOSS as Prior Art**, just to be neutral about some political/social issues). Thus you need to know what //FLOSS// and //Prior Art// is. Here you can find some basic information:

  *  [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free/Libre/Open-Source_Software|Free/Libre/Open-Source Software]] - FLOSS
  *  [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Source_Definition|Open Source Definition]]
  *  [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_software|Open-source Software]]
  *  [[:osapa:prior_art| Prior Art ]] - Introduction to Prior Art
  *  [[http://www.bios.net/daisy/patentlens/114.html|Patent Top Ten]] - Top 10 things you should know about patents

======  Projects ======

[[:osapa:things_that_can_be_done_right_now| Things that can be done right now ]]
=====  Use already existing publications as Prior Art =====

  * **[[:osapa:howto_search_for_prior_art_in_the_internet| HowTo search for Prior Art in the Internet ]] ([[:osapa:howto_profiling| HowTo search for Prior Art in the Internet ]])**
  * This HowTo is a step-by-step guide on how you could perform a coordinated search for Prior Art in the Internet.

  * **[[:osapa:prior_art_meta-search_engine| Prior Art meta-search engine ]]**
  * (will be) a system to aid your search for Prior Art

  * **[[:osapa:example_prior_art_search| Example Prior Art search ]]**
  * An example where the //HowTo search for Prior Art// is used on one specific patent

  * **[[:osapa:publication_categorization| Publication Categorization ]]**
  * If you have no idea, what kind of software might be used as Prior Art for a specific patent, then look here. Basicly this is a mapping between USPTO categories and FLOSS categories.

  * **[[:osapa:request_for_prior_art_mailinglist| Request for Prior Art Mailinglist ]]**
  * This might become a mailinglist where you can ask for associations to specific patents. So more people might help you to find appropriate starting-points for your Prior Art research.

  * **[[https://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/osapa/timestamping_%26_date_forensics| Timestamping & Date Forensics ]]**
=====  Make electronic data more valuable as Prior Art =====

  * **[[:osapa:guideline_for_developers| Guideline for Developers ]]**
  * What can you do to ensure your program can be used as Prior Art in 20 years

  * **[[:osapa:tagging_prototype| Tagging Prototype ]]**
  * Easier searching for Prior Art (or for reusing appropriate code in your own project)

  * **[[:osapa:osstag| OSSTag ]]**
  * A Social Tagging Engine

  * **[[https://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/osapa/timestamping_%26_date_forensics| Timestamping & Date Forensics ]]**
======  USPTO and Prior Art ======

  *  [[:osapa:patent_law| Patent Law ]] - some important excerpts regarding Prior Art
  *  [[http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/|Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP)]]
  *  [[http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/0900.htm|900 Prior Art, Classification, and Search]]
  *  [[http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/2100_2128.htm#sect2128|Printed and electronic publications as Prior Art]]
  * [[https://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/osapa/notice_of_public_hearing_and_request_for_comments_on_issues_related_to_the_identification_of_prior_art_during_the_examination_of_a_patent_application| Notice of Public Hearing and Request for Comments on Issues Related to the Identification of Prior Art During the Examination of a Patent Application ]]. - In 1999 the USPTO issued an RFC, here you find the RFC itself and lots of comments

  *  Proposed Rule Changes to Focus the Patent Process in the 21st Century, Januar 2006 ([[http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/opla/presentation/focuspp.html|link]])

  *   Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property [[http://judiciary.house.gov/Oversight.aspx?ID=231|Oversight Hearing on "Patent Quality Enhancement in the Information-Based Economy"]], April 5th, 2006, including Video-Stream
======  General ======

  *  [[:osapa:capas| CAPAS ]] - Computer Aided Prior Art Search

  *  [[:osapa:faq| FAQ ]] - Frequently Asked Questions

  *  [[:osapa:milestones| Milestones ]] - General Project goals -- what people can do to help

  *  [[:osapa:motivations| Motivations ]] - The motivations behind this project

  *  [[:osapa:questions_for_the_uspto| Questions for the USPTO ]] - Questions posed to the USPTO by members of the OSS community

  *  [[:osapa:glossary| Glossary ]] - Words, phrases, and acronyms explained

  *  [[:osapa:out_of_scope| Out of Scope ]] - Patent reform alternatives outside the scope of this project
======  Recent Events ======
=====  Tagging Workshop September 2006 =====

[[:osapa:tagging_workshop_2006_sep| Tagging Workshop 2006 Sep ]] - agenda + attendees + presentations + conclusions

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