!022194 Bill filed to pre-publish patent applications after 18 months Senator Dennis DeConcini, a Democrat from Arizona and chairman of the Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee, recently introduced legislation that would require patent applications to be published 18 months after they have been filed. Patent applications are currently kept secret until a patent is granted. Software industry representatives in particular have championed some sort of prepublication system as a way to avert the granting of patents with overly broad claims or of technology that is considered obvious. Mr. DeConcini will hold a hearing on his bill on March 9. Bruce A. Lehman, the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, speaking last week at a symposium at George Washington University, embraced the concept without endorsing Mr. DeConcini's plan specifically. "It's time for us to consider early publication", Mr. Lehman said. "I'm not sure it should be 18 months, though". Greg Aharonian Internet Patent News Service