[Cboldt]

FWIW, "registration" is different from owning the rights, except under patent, where the two (the IP and the registration or grant) merge.

There is a "moral/legal" component to patent examination. You can't patent a method of burglary, for example.

[rightwingcrazy]

There is a “moral/legal” component to patent examination. You can’t patent a method of burglary, for example.

The “moral” component is interesting, if divorced from the legal. It could form the basis for removing patent protection for weapons or weapon enhancements on the one hand, or an innovation in birth control on the other. It’s odd that there would be a moral/legal component in any case. Either it’s intellectual property, or it isn’t, whether it would be used for immoral or illegal purposes, or not.