The Standard: Amazon.com Patents Enemy-Making Process: "Critics say the patent office doesn't have the time or the training to keep up with technology, and that's why it keeps awarding patents to obvious (and in some cases, universal) innovations." How hard can it be for the patent office to hire even one or two Internet-savvy academics or something who would be able to question this stuff? The incompetence in such an economically crucial role is mind-blowing and sad.