Looking out for #1- whoever that might be

Jason Kottke, who's blog is a great read on a regular basis, posted this gem regarding the USPTO's announcement yesterday of the top 10 companies granted patents in 2005.

The undersecretary of Commerce for IP was quoted:
"America's technological and economic strength is the result of its tremendous ingenuity. The USPTO has taken and will continue to take aggressive steps that will enhance quality and improve productivity to ensure that U.S. intellectual property protection remains the best in the world, protecting American innovation and sustaining economic growth."

The problem? Six of the top ten companies are not American ones. So much for protecting *american* innovation.

Anyhow, it's interesting if you think about it. We live in a global economy, but is it America's job (and that of the tax payer by extension) to protect foreign companies against their IP being violated by American companies? Guess you need to treat everyone fairly in the courts. Anyhow, food for thought.