[alicebot-general] patent is JOKE

[Kris Schnee]

Considering that it's a real patent, your criticism should probably be 
directed to the PTO for allowing it. But the lawyers looking over the 
appliations there -- judging from the words of a friend who was one 
recently -- are badly overworked. The average time to get a patent 
issued has been increasing to several years' delay, the PTO has trouble 
attracting qualified personnel, and stupid stuff slips through.

Kris