Things seem to be moving in this direction. I'm not clear on details, but:
• "The USPTO Prior Art Submission Site, scheduled for launch on September 16, 2012, will deliver prior art directly to examiners at the USPTO." Any individual can make three submissions for free, beyond that I'm not sure how it works.
• "Google’s new Prior Art Finder searches for relevant inventions that precede the publication of a pending patent application."
• Stack Exchange is also going to launch a new site whose mission includes collaborative searching for prior art to submit through the USPTO's new system to block patent applications.
• "The USPTO Prior Art Submission Site, scheduled for launch on September 16, 2012, will deliver prior art directly to examiners at the USPTO." Any individual can make three submissions for free, beyond that I'm not sure how it works.
• "Google’s new Prior Art Finder searches for relevant inventions that precede the publication of a pending patent application."
• Stack Exchange is also going to launch a new site whose mission includes collaborative searching for prior art to submit through the USPTO's new system to block patent applications.