[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by 619TF

Nobody claimed this was a novel invention per se. The novelty is the use of the material and the changes that means to a pick. What it means, and what's been recognized by the USPTO is a novel application of the material and an admittedly minor innovation in picks. Enough to qualify for a patent obviously. If it's still confusing then I'd recommend you read my prior post. If you still don't get how this patent was approved and why then I'd recommend a study on Patents. As to your example, if in fact the material you pointed out hasn't yet been used for what you're applying it to (here it's guitar picks but it could be anything else) then yes, you may get a patent.

As the material in question here is itself a patented product the new patent claimer must refer to that material (which they did), claim a new use of that material (which they are), be the first to do so (apparently that applies here) and it's highly likely they're paying the original patent holder some sort of fee. Oh, they are also allowed now to LICENSE the use of their patent to others. Simply allowing others to do it without any attempt to enforce the Patent means they'd lose all of it.

You're providing facts to people who just want to be outraged.