Patents need to expire faster? Thats pretty noble for a consumer to say but how does an inventor/investor retieve their capital investment if they have no means to capitalize on their investment? The net effect of what you suggest is their will be less incentive to create new technology. However what you are advocating is already happening because the patent office invalidates your patent every 4 years if you don't pay them an extortion fee(they call it an maintenance fee). Please read the links at this site http://cleverlever99.blogspot.com Guess how much incentive I have to produce any new energy saving inventions?