Obligatory exercise your cat with a laser pointer patent:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5443036.html
This was always included on the first day of any patent class in law school.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5443036.html
This was always included on the first day of any patent class in law school.
I found the whole process deeply unpleasant - but as it was mandated by our VC investors, even though I was CTO, I couldn't say "no".
It takes a hell of a lot of guts, admittedly, but doing the right thing often does. The decision has to be made at a pre-investment stage, because you don't want to be placed in a breach-of-contract position later.
So my objections were mainly selfish rather than principled. I like to think these days I would act on principle...