[jeremyarussell]

If the price of patent filing was to increase it would increase the barrier for people that don't have a lot of money. Filing in the US starts at $390. http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee100512.htm. I picture a person without a job and lots of time on their hands coming up with something truly unique and amazing, only to be met with an even larger barrier to entry to make sure some big company can't rip off the idea and go to product with their budget. People already face daunting forms, making the process harder only negatively effects poor people that can't afford a team of lawyers and paralegals.

Other than that I found your points on how the current system doesn't incentivize creation but dissuades it instead good, I can say I've been put off from a few of my ideas because I find a patent that's a bit too close and I really don't want to have to face that. Maybe one day when I have billions I can be a renegade, not yet though.

[tracker1]

Okay, how about the lesser of 10% of the patent owner's monthly income or $10,000 to file? From there, it would be another $10K for the first 5 years, and $50K for 3 5-year extensions? Then the filing can be modest.. and upon approval, will be about the same to cover 5 years, and have to re-up at a higher cost.. assuming the patent is actually worth keeping active by then.

[robomartin]

If patents were very expensive and someone with no money invents a novel cure for cancer in their garage the next step is to go find money to both get a patent and make the thing happen. If they don't have money and come up with a real --useful, marketable-- invention they'd have to go get money to make it a reality anyway.

Again, as I said in my note, not well thought-out at all.