Using online social networks to handle patent applications

Experts in intellectual property and patents explain in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialization how tools, such as online social networking could be used to eradicate the enormous backlog of patent applications in the US.

Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace allow visitors to create networks of friends and contacts, upload images, music, videos, and news stories. Members can discuss, blog, and rate different media on such sites and provide useful feedback to the content creators. Analyzing social networks can uncover patterns of interaction between people and reveal what is important and well-ranked in a given group, or community.

For full article click here.