General_W
Councilor & Merlot Noble
Epsilon Team! patents the Dot Map
EPSILON ERIDANI - Government officials announced today that have patented the Dot Map. "I recieved a letter from the US Patent Office this morning," said President DaveMcW. "They accepted our application and granted us patent number 5,220,432." A patent grants the holder exclusive rights to use the invention for 25 years.
Epsilon Team! is willing to share their knowledge. "I am putting together a licensing program right now," said Foreign Minister General_W. "We are looking to charge other teams about 1 gold per Dot, with volume discounts available."
Science Minister Memphus explained how he discovered the Dot Map. "I was telling everyone how great it would be to build a city at Eridani-7-7-8-8, but no one understood what I was talking about. So I drew a map in the sand and placed a dot where our settler should go.


The First Dot Map
Chief Prosecuter peter grimes immediately recognized the value of the invention, and put together the paperwork to obtain a US Patent. He is also credited with coming up with the name Dot Map.
Not everyone was happy with new patent. "I have been using maps with dots for years, and suddenly I have to pay lisence fees? Something is seriously wrong with this patent system," complained Conan the local barbarian. Defense Minister lost_civantares restored order by chopping off Conan's head.