Remote-Controlled GPS Cyanide Implant Patent Rejected

The German patent office have rejected an application for a "killer chip" for political undesirables.  The chip, which the Saudi inventor suggested would be useful for tracking terrorists, criminals, fugitives, illegal immigrants, political dissidents, domestic servants and foreigners overstaying their visas, consisted of not only a GPS transceiver but an optional capsule of cyanide that could be remotely administered.

Implanted under the individual's skin, the chip would generally be used to monitor their location and make sure they had not transgressed any laws or limitations on movement.  If they had, however, the cyanide could be used to kill them without requiring police intervention.

According to the German Patent and Trademark Office spokesperson, Stephanie Kruger, the invention "will probably be found to violate paragraph two of the German Patent Law — which does not allow inventions that transgress public order or good morals."  The patent application was filed back in October 2007.

[via Tech Radar]