still another type
is the patent issued on "concept" rather than a working model.


Dave wrote:
The black letter law, at least, is that you can't patent an idea.


Well, that's utter bull****.

There are thousands of patents issued on devices that have been thought
of but not invented yet... the idea is to lock out competition.

For example, xerography. Not to take anything away from Chester Carlson,
but his story is popular lately. He patented the concept of xerography
in 1937 and did not produce a legible xerographic copy for another year
and a half.

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/in...xerography.htm

DSK