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Comment on Has a patent office ever refused to grant a patent to something on the grounds it was too obscene?

I knew of someone who had a patent for a device that attached to a forklift to aid in large scale floor remodeling (scraped up old vinyl flooring). The US military used Eminent Domain to steal that patent and use it for military operations (still just remodeling old floors, not even for combat operations).

I don’t know any more specifics about it. (I have a feeling there were more details that would have made that more understandable). Just that they can take a patent if they feel they need to.

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RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
I’m confused. If that’s obscene, it sounds dangerous.

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iknowitwheniseeit@lemmynsfw.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
It’s also possible that the military had been using such a device for decades and it was actually prior art that invalidated the patent, but this was lost in the retelling. 🤔

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- toadjones79@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  I have no idea. It may have even be n a false claim. But I do believe the government can pay claim to a patent if it wants to. Like, if you invented a new kind of bomb, like say you figured out how to make a device that could create a decent amount of antimatter in a second row two, specifically loaded into a warhead, I’m pretty sure the government would take that from you and all your research. And it would be illegal to publish the design.
  
  But I’m no lawyer and am merely guessing.
  
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  - Droechai@lemm.ee ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
    The hobby antimatter bomb makers are just the new version of gunsmiths working out of their garage workshops
    
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    cheese_greater@lemmy.world ⁨22⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
    A lkid manufactured an atomic bomb in his makeshift backyard nuclear shed
    
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Agent641@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I want that job of driving the forklift scraper

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- Lexam@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago
  It would take all of five minutes to not want that job. Very messy and dusty. And not good mess like old nasty stuff that’s seeped under those tiles. Bonus the tiles might be asbestos. But if this sounds like a good time still, please report to your nearest US Army Recruitment Office!
  
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