Odds and Ends (11/4/08)

Peter Moser, a giant in the field of legal ethics, and beloved by friends and colleagures, passed away last month.    . . . .    Blawg Review No. 184, at the Faculty Lounge.    . . . .    What implication does the In re Bilski decision, which trims back or even eliminates protection for business method patents, have for those patents on ways to avoid taxes?  We'll see, but unless the patents are machine implemented or transform matter they probably won't get protection.  As a patent lawyer said to me, "here's a useful rule of thumb: if the inventors are all B.A.'s and J.D., it's looking grim."    . . . .