RE: ARMCHAIR LAWYER ALERT (was: Re: Atom's dates may have legal implications... At least one "objective date" should be supported.)

["Bob Wyman" <bobwyman@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul Hoffman wrote:
> (unless I'm wrong about you being a lawyer offering legal advice)
	The "time-honored habit of the IETF" of attacking anyone other than
a lawyer who attempts to contribute by commenting on the law is one of the
most infantile and unproductive traditions of this process. The idea that
only those who belong to a particular group are able to speculate about and
comment on the law is reminiscent of the aristocratic cultures that are
anathema to everything that I, as an American, have been taught to value. In
a democracy, it is expected that all citizens are responsible to know and
comment on the law -- our laws only constrain the ability to practicing the
law, not for commenting on it or interpreting it.
	As far as my credentials are concerned: I have been in the
technology business for thirty years and have, for one reason or another,
needed to study patent office practice and patent law on numerous occasions.
I hold four patents. On numerous occasions, I have been given advice by
lawyers on what constitutes prior art and what constitutes a "printed
publication" in these contexts. I have specifically had the specific
portions of the MPEP that I referenced in my message reviewed by and
commented on by two lawyers in the past. I dare say that I understand this
tiny corner of the law better then most lawyers do or could every wish to.
	Attack *what* I say, if you wish, but this infantile crud of
attacking *who* said something is simply not useful.

		bob wyman