Taken for a ride
This refers to your story Peddling a two-wheeled dream (July 24). I am loath to take up an issue with a fellow inventor, but it seems Anadish Pal has literally taken your reporters for a ride even before his PMV is ready. Let me clarify the fact that no patent is issued on a provisional application. You have to file a complete specification for consideration before being granted a patent. For an Indian, the patent must first be obtained in India. Only then can a person apply for it in any other country. When a patent has been obtained in India, surely there must have been a drawing of the invention, which could have been reproduced in your story rather than pictures of three other inventions. Careless reporting mars the pleasure of reading your otherwise excellent science magazine.
Cawas Nazir via email
Subrata Mukherjee replies: Anadish Pal filed a non-provisional application in 2001 to his provisional application. Till April 2005, the Government of India allowed Indians to apply for a US patent without filing an Indian patent. On April 4, 2005, the government in a Gazette order stated that any Indian resident is either advised to seek permission from the controller of patents in India before filing a foreign patent or to first file an Indian patent and then apply for a foreign patent exactly three months from the date of the Indian filing. Pal had filed his application much before the order.
Warning bells
With reference to Information Invaders (August 7), the article was very informative. With hackers playing havoc all around the world, KnowHow has gone deep into the subject for its readers’ benefit. Following the warning by your reporter, the question that arises is who will take care of our documents and important files stored in our PCs? And this question needs urgent attention.
T. R. Anand via email
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