[RightWhale]

The Patent and Trademark Office recently issued Patent 6,362,718 for a physically impossible motionless electromagnetic generator

There could be a few dozen claims in the original application and the patent granted to only one of the claims. For example, the PTO might grant a design patent for the shape of a magnet without granting a patent for a ZPE machine in its entirety.

[gomaaa]

True, and it's my understanding (though this could be wrong) that the gadget in question doesn't have to actually work in order to get a patent on it. That doesn't make it any less rediculous that someone thought this sort of thing COULD work, but the system gives them the benefit of the doubt.

[Cboldt]

the PTO might grant a design patent for the shape of a magnet without granting a patent for a ZPE machine in its entirety.

The author of the article is dead wrong on (at least) one point. I've read the entire patent in question, and it says quite plainly that the device converts magnetic energy to electricty, with the magnetic energy comning from a permanent magnet, and the permanent magnet becoming de-magnetized (or less magnetized) in the process.

You are also correct, design patents are available, but design patents are only enforcible for the ornamental aspect of an object, and are not useflu to protect any functional value.