An artist asked the gallery owner if there had been any interest in his paintings currently on display.
"I've got good news and bad news," the owner replied. "The good news is that a gentleman inquired about your work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. When I told him it would, he bought all 15 of your paintings."
"That's wonderful!" the artist exclaimed, "What's the bad news?"
With concern, the gallery owner replied, "The guy was your doctor."
Patent for peanut butter and jelly sandwichIn 1999, a U.S. patent was granted for making a “Sealed Crustless Sandwich,” (No. 6,004,596), to David Geske and Len C. Kretchman of Menusaver, Inc. From 1995, they had successfully marketed their product to schools. Smucker bought the company and introduced “Uncrustables.” Shortly, Smucker alleged patent infringement by Abbie's Foods, Inc., a grocer and caterer, warning them to cease selling a crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Albie's appealed to federal court (11 Jan 2001). Challenging the patent, Albie's requested (9 Mar 2001) a Patent Office re-examination. A patent requires non-obviousness, and is invalidated by any prior useage. Despite Smucker's further patent filings and appeals, the Patent Office finally cancelled the improvident patent (8 Dec 2006).« |
