SynchTech Unpatentable?

Some of the mystique generated by Siemens marketing around synchronous technology is that it is heavily protected by patents. Maybe.

I haven't found any record of patents pending in the USA, but perhaps the patents were/are taken out in the European Union. 

If the patents haven't been registered by now, it may be too late for Siemens PLM Systems, for the USPTO is saying it might not accept software patents anymore -- with an emphasis on the word "might." 

The [US] Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that abstract concepts and mathematical algorithms are not patentable.

You can read more on the uncertain future facing patents on software at Patent Office finds voice, calls for software patent sanity by Timothy B. Lee on ars technia.

Comments

[Jim]

FYI... you can file applications and not know they are pending until they publish; some 18 months later. Also, you can request non-publication of patent applications.

Be patient sir.

BTW, they are filed and pending.

[Norm C.]

I've recently seen a short web demo of Catia V6, and it looks like they have something similar to SyncTech...

[Evan Yares]

I doubt that you'll find patents labeled "sychronous technology".

The underlying change in attitude at the USPTO about software patents is a good thing, in my mind. Software patents have proven to be more of a cudgel than an incentive to innovation.