Towards open source patents: Semi-automated open hardware certification from MediaWiki websites

Abstract

Patents can be granted for unoriginal inventions if prior art outside of the patent literature is missed such as free and open source software and hardware. The Open Source Hardware Association created a certification database that could be used for prior art, but it misses inventions that are not commercialized. To capture these technologies, this study describes a novel tool that is a semi-automated way of applying for certification from MediaWiki websites. A case study using Appropedia, found that transfer of information needed to obtain OSHWA certification could be completed on average in 62.5% less than direct form filling.