I wrote:
> Where does the patent office claim that, pls? >> > > I wouldn't know. Good luck finding it in their rules. Anyway, that's what > they told Jim Patterson. Maybe they changed the rule subsequently. Ah ha. Here's something about it: "If the applicant is more than 65 years of age or in a state of health such that they might not be available to assist in prosecution of the application under the normal examination procedures, a Petition to Make Special may be filed without a fee." http://www.sughrue.com/files/Publication/7280eb69-3ced-4d49-abb1-a382404eac6f/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/c0429f1e-6ea2-4898-887c-a3c2f72a0bdb/SRmakespecialOct04.pdf I gather Patterson also faked them out by hiding the nature of his discovery. Not mentioning cold fusion, or something like that. I do not know the details. He was a clever fellow. Maybe too clever. - Jed
