Re: .NET Patents - IPM Inc. - 9/8/98

[ipm@en.com]

Prof. Davis,

I appreciate your reply. Help me with my semantics.
>>Remember, an issued patent can be challenged at anytime by anyone.

>This is untrue. A granted patent cannot be challenged by anyone,
>in reality, and legally only by a competitor.

A 'Challenged' patent seems to have been not a clear enough description.
Suppose today, I found a publication that was written 15 years ago which
seems to clearly serve as pior art to a patent issued 5 years ago, with
a priority date that is 10 years ago.

Are you saying that only a competitor can 'challenge' this?
Or is the word 'challenge' used as a term which pertains to an
interference only?

Thank you,
Eric