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Has anyone had any experience with patents on technical writing or documentation techniques? I wonder if outfits like
Information Mapping patented some of their layout? Or if anyone ever tried to patent the old tri-pane navigation help system?
Indexing techniques ...?
Seems you can patent anything these days. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted a patent for swinging on a
[playground] swing "inducing a component of forward and back motion into the swinging motion, resulting in a swinging path that
is generally shaped as an oval. ... The user may even choose to produce a Tarzan-type yell while swinging in the manner
described, which more accurately replicates swinging on vines in a dense jungle forest. Actual jungle forestry is not required."
If you don't believe me, go here http://patft.uspto.gov/
and search on patent number 6,368,227
John Cornellier
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