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Patented prime numbers
From: Georgi Guninski <[email protected]>
>Probably this is well known.
>http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5373560.html
>http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PrimeNumber.html
>(check (3))
>> Because of their importance in encryption algorithms such as RSA encryption, prime numbers can be >>important commercial commodities. In fact, R. Schlafly (1994) has obtained U.S. Patent 5373560 on the >>following two primes (expressed in hexadecimal notation):Â
>fuck, fuck, fuck.
To repeat what ought to be well-known, in order to be patentable, an invention must be:
1. Â New
2. Â Useful
3. Â Unobvious to those skilled in the art.
Those two primes were clearly not 'new'. Â (The knowledge by humans that those primes WERE primes may have been new, however. Â But I don't think that qualifies.)
Arguably, these primes are 'useful'.
However, these numbers (to the extent they are primes) are indeed 'obvious' to those skilled in the art.
Also, I believe there is a rule that says that laws of nature aren't patentable. Â To the extent that primality is a law of nature, it shouldn't be patentable. Â
The good news is that patents last 20 years these days. Â If the patent was granted in 1994, it either has run out or shortly will do so.
       Jim Bell
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