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"Cash for clunkers" and the USPTO: both out of money?

By Lawrence B. Ebert, Esq.

Back on July 24, IPBiz noted similarities between the USPTO and "Cash for Clunkers" in that both changed underlying data within an internet website. Now, 6 days after the program began, Cash for Clunkers ran out of money, not having foreseen adequately what was going to happen. But, wait, the patent part of the USPTO is out of money too, not having foreseen the consequences of dropping the grant rate.

Bloomberg writes on clunkers:

The U.S. government?s $1 billion ?cash for clunkers? program to spur new car sales ran through the money six days after it began, Senator Debbie Stabenow said.

(...)

Officials at the White House and the Transportation Department declined to comment on the program?s status. A White House official, who asked not to be identified because no announcement had been made, said the administration was assessing the situation facing what had turned out to be an overwhelmingly popular program.

Transactions Honored

All valid transactions that have taken place so far under the clunkers program will be honored, the official said.

The Transportation Department had said this week that the money wasn?t running out.

See also Cash for clunkers

Full post as published by IPBiz on July 31, 2009 (boomark / email).