Although the US hasn't been diligent enough in looking for prior art, at least we don't have a first-to-file system like most other countries (although, there was a a bill to do that last year), in which I would assume stealing someone's work and patenting it would be even more encouraged.

I'd personally prefer the times on copyrights and patents be reduced ... possibly a tiered system (as the drug companies insist they need more time to make money off their stuff, make it so that their lobbying doesn't affect all forms of patents).

(I admit, I once tried to figure out what was required to file a patent, so I could submit a 'Apparatus for Dispute Resolution', with a schematic of 'Thunderdome' attached.)

update: fixed missing closing parenthesis