米国 力が抜ける・・・orz

Anticipate this!で紹介されていたのですが思わずへなへなと来てしまいました。

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Variously devices have been patented by applicants by which a candy pop can be held by the device and consumed by the user. Applicants do not know of any prior art devices which secure a lollipop in place and is provided in combination with a stop watch by which the consumer can time themselves or some other person to see how much time is used to consume the lollipop

こんな先行技術を出願人は知らない・・・・・あたり前だぁ！！と突っ込みたくなる特許ですねえ。幸い、ファミリーはないので気の毒だったのはUSPTOの審査官だけでした。
発明者の顔ぶれみてみると、何かのアニバーサリーにでも出願したのかなという気がします。
ここはやはり、EPOを見習いましょう！
EPO President Alison Brimelow believes priority has to be given to patent quality. "The purpose of patents is to support the generation of economic benefits for society. However, large patent numbers are not necessarily indicative of growing R&D activity," she said. "What we therefore need is not more patents, but more good patents."
私の会社も不毛な特許軍拡を見直さないといけないなぁ