In 95 - 96, I participated in the year 2000 mailing list. It came to light
that IBM had trademarked "YEAR2000". People freaked, some were pretty livid.
Finally, after a few days, someone pointed out that what IBM had done was
have some third-string lawyer spend a few minutes filing some paperwork, so
that no one else, likely a little guy, could trademark "YEAR2000", and then
contact users requesting that they pay a licensing fee. IIRC, something
quite like that later happened with Y2K, which was coined by someone
unrelated on the year 2000 mailing list.

Works both ways, and frequently makes a mess. Although I think I could live
with pop up windows getting patented. I'm really not sure that I would miss
them that much.

The article states that "For years, critics have said the patent office is
overwhelmed and undermanned". Why didn't the Patent Office staff up during
the boom times, when federal revenues were at a record high?

Greg Stigers, MCSA
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