>Date: Mon, 18 Jan 1999 13:37:54 -0800 >From: David Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: Film leader and patents [v04.n201/2] >Message: 2 > >"Justin R. Bregar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >>>I also own an F5 and I had it programmed by Nikon at the last NPPA >>>Conference to leave the Film leader out. No Charge. I asked the Tech to >>>confirm my suspicion that Canon (please excuse my filthy mouth) has the >>>patent on A USER SERVICEABLE OPTION TO LEAVE THE FILM LEADER OUT. He said >>>that is why they can program it and we can't. Dirty Shame, I did like the >>>option on my old A2e, before I upgraded to the F5. >>>Drew > >>Nope. Minolta's 800si can be programmed to leave it out when rewound. >>It's a Nikon thing. > >In addition, for something to be patented it must not be "obvious to one >skilled >in the art". I really doubt leaving the leader out and autorewind fall into >this category. I have heard that the Patent Office has been a bit liberal >in their granting of patents lately. However, if an idea really should not >have been patentable in the first place it could be challenged in court. > >David Johnson I agree. It's not that they can't do it, it's that they don't want to do it. Ed
