[ILUG] Re: ILUG sends s/w patents briefing document to Irish MEPs

[Paul Jakma]

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005, Paul O'Malley wrote:

> famous example one only has to look the years of delay in the 
> implementation of the high pressure steam engine. Another example

Interestingly, just as Watt's patent on the external condenser 
prevented others from advancing work on high-pressure engines, Watt's 
own engine designs were slightly 'ham strung' by not being able to 
use a crank-shaft to convert reciprocal motion of piston to rotary 
because Watt believed this to be covered by a patent[1].

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/watt_james.shtml

regards,
-- 
Paul Jakma	paul at clubi.ie	paul at jakma.org	Key ID: 64A2FF6A
Fortune:
Two can Live as Cheaply as One for Half as Long.
 		-- Howard Kandel