IP lawyer turns patent foe, gets grant funding

Hi Press List folks,

Here's an interesting story that I've seen no coverage of as yet. Dan
Ravicher used to be an intellectual property attorney at Patterson Belknap
and Tyner, a prestigious NY City law firm. He left the firm to pursue
challenging abuses of the patent system, and got grant funding to do
that. His phone and email are at the end of the release.

	Thanks

	Bruce Perens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public Patent Foundation Receives Seed Funding, Begins Operations

Executive Director Named One of World's 'Best Emerging Social Entrepreneurs'

Contact:

Daniel Ravicher, Executive Director, Public Patent Foundation
Phone: 917-843-3425
Email: dan-AT-pubpat.org
Web Site: www.pubpat.org.

NEW YORK - The New York City-based Public Patent Foundation, a non-profit
organization aimed at protecting individuals and small businesses from the
negative effects of the patent system, has begun operations with the
assistance of seed financing provided by the global social venture fund
Echoing Green.

Daniel Ravicher, Founder of the Public Patent Foundation and a registered
patent attorney, was named by Echoing Green as one of the world's "Best
Emerging Social Entrepreneurs" for his campaign against patents that harm
the public health, impinge civil liberties, and impair free markets.

According to Ravicher, roughly half of all patents in the United States are
illegitimate, meaning they should have never been granted. Illegitimate
patents restrict the availability of critical medications to the public and
deprive small businesses in information technology industries of fair
opportunities to compete in the marketplace. Utilizing legal action,
advocacy and public education strategies, the Public Patent Foundation will
work to expose and neutralize illegitimate patents through various
mechanisms, including filing requests with the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office to have such patents revoked. Prominent law professors from Columbia,
Georgetown and Stanford law schools have already pledged support for the
organization.

"Most people do not realize how significantly illegitimate patents are
assailing their health, their freedoms, and their wallets," Ravicher, 28,
said. "The Public Patent Foundation will close this information gap and
represent the interests of the public on patent issues."

Through the Public Patent Foundation, Ravicher will launch an education
campaign regarding patents and implement various strategies for alleviating
the harms caused by patents. Ultimately, the Public Patent Foundation will
offer patent legal services to economically disadvantaged businesses and
individuals, prepare and file amicus briefs in important patent cases, and
establish a patent commons through which patents are made available to the
public on favorable terms.

"Eliminating illegitimate patents will save the general public billions of
dollars by removing barriers to competition in the marketplace for formerly
patent-protected goods," says Ravicher. "Raising awareness of the patent
system's devastating effects will promote dialogue and encourage support for
reforming the system."
Ravicher received a bachelor's degree in materials science magna cum laude
from the University of South Florida and a law degree from the University of
Virginia School of Law, where he also received the Public Service Award.
Prior to founding the Public Patent Foundation, Ravicher practiced patent
law with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Brobeck, Phleger &
Harrison, LLP, and Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler, LLP, all in New York.
Throughout his career, Ravicher has performed hundreds of hours of pro bono
legal services for individuals, nonprofit organizations, and small
businesses.

"Our goal is to preserve, protect, and promote the rights of the general
public to have goods available in the marketplace without encumbrance from
illegitimate patents and unsound patent policy," said Ravicher. "We want to
provide the public with an understanding of and a voice in the process."