You did *What* to save on your taxes?

[svero]

This is not specific to the game biz but it's so insane that I had to post it...

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/19/business/norris20.php

"There is even one case pending in U.S. court in Connecticut, in which
an organization called the Tax Strategies Group complains that John
Rowe, the chairman and former chief executive of Aetna, infringed on
its patent by using a certain type of trust to minimize taxes on
profits from stock options. The group wants Rowe to be barred from
using that strategy unless he buys a license from it."

And I thought software patents were bad...

- S

[Anthony Flack]

Tax loopholes are "inventions"? Wacky, wacky world.

[arcadetown]

To patent lawyers, all this makes some sense. Others might see it as an example of judicial absurdity.
Patent lawyers love anything they can do to increase the amount of work available to their industry.

[cliffski]

I remember in the UK some businessman had made a deduction on his tax bill for capital depreciation of a 'water storage facility'. Eventually, after a visit from a tax inspector, he had to show them his swimming pool.

[svero]

And even worse.. the swimming pool as water storage unit tax deduction is Patented!

[Applewood]

Do they have a patent on adding chlorine to "keep the water fresh and drinkable" ? :)

[Pyabo]

Yea, I read about this online over the weekend also... Absolutely crazy. So, you need to license this patent in order to follow tax laws now? What's next, a patent for driving on the right side of the road?