Dominating patents: a view from the bridge.

Despite the obvious values of the patent systems of the world (see reference 1 for a review), there remain several aspects of patents that irritate not only members of the general public, but also some scientists, particularly those iwhose work is dependent on patented products produced by industry. One of these irritants concerns the apparent monopoly afforded by law to the patentee. Another irritant that flows from the first, and the focus of this talk, is pioneer patents that dominate a field. I will deal briefly with the monopoly aspects, then consider dominating patents and pioneer patents and the ways available for circumventing their effects.