I happen to believe that the US Patent and Trademark Office is out of control. Yes, they took away the Compton’s patent on seraching a CD-ROM for information, and a few others … but they still can’t handle it. For some of the latest idiocy, see the end of this DDJ Editorial.
Comments?
Oh, FWIW, if you have a laser pointer and one or more cats, you have probably infringed on this patent
I don’t have cats–does it work? Will a cat chase a laser pointer beam around the room? And do cats NEED to be exercised? The ones I see, seem to spend 90% of their time asleep on the couch.
Is it just me, or is there a suspicious resemblance here to the Monty Python “Confuse-A-Cat” Service? Can you apply for and get a patent just as a practical joke?
Only yesterday, I gave my laser pointer to my boyfriend, who keeps ferrets. How fortunate! Previously, I’d used it as a toy for my cat, who frankly was more irritated than fascinated by it (note to Duck Duck Goose: yes, cats will chase a pointer beam, but some of 'em get mighty ticked off once they realize it isn’t strictly catchable!). I am so glad to have mended my evil, patent infringing ways.
Not onlt will cats go nuts for it, dogs will learn from them. My ex’s german shepard was one. He graduated to jumping at any flashlight beam, anywhere, causing some trouble one time in a canoe…
All sorts of cats will chase the red dot from a laser pointer. In addition to my ex’s cat, the big cats at the zoo followed it around one overcast day when I happened to have my laser pointer with me.
I’ve even seen fish and birds follow the “dot” on some occasions.