The PTO is feeling the pressure from entrepreneurs to change its focus from Fat Cats to humanity. Here is a publicity stunt where the PTO will award expedited processing on up to 50 inventions that help the poor.
http://patentsforhumanity.challenge.gov/
Wonder what percentage of these awards will end up being given to IBM and other Fat Cats? Here is a clue “The pilot program encourages businesses of all kinds to apply their patented technology to addressing the world’s humanitarian challenges. “Best guess, 90% go to Fat Cats so the PTO has about 5 to highlight while giving most awards to Fat Cats, researchers from academia and Federal labs since “Judging will be performed by researchers from academia and Federal labs” rather than by representatives of humanity and the poor. Besides, why should it be limited to 50 when 10,000 awards are available for purchase by Fat Cats? Answer: Because it is just a PR stunt.