[adamkiss]

Does it even care if it's rejected or not? There is a prior patent, doesn't that count as 'prior art' (i.e. this new patent is just overpriced paper)?

[dalke]

You can also patent improvements. Since no one knows the details, you can't be sure that there is no prior art. What if the patent is on the specific way the dustbin is attached to the handle?

You need only review the barbed wire or paperclip patents to see how seemingly small differences can be patented.

[adamkiss]

Ah, that didn't cross my mind. Thanks