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well, yes, obviously the Renault "secrets" were not patented, or we could all read the patents... Renault can at least sue the $%#* out of the people who leaked whatever secrets were leaked, assuming these people had signed well written NDAs (which any company worth its salt does these days)... that is probably not likely to make up for the (potential) monetary loss.
In the example I cited, I think the small company (and this was a few years ago) was growing but not *that* lucrative yet. As I understand it, the copycat company had a significant product portfolio (possibly substantially developed using similar techniques) + was sufficiently large to out-endure a lengthy court battle. The original company should have been smarter/better advised in patent law imho.
I can guarantee it, if someone made a real copy of an ipod or ipad, Apple would be all over it (and probably is suing manufacturers of similar devices). Apple didn't invent the MP3 player or cell phone, but you can bet there are lots of patented features in the ipod/pad/phone. Also, industrial design + patents are 2 different things... the stuff BYD is copying is industrial design (though it wouldn't surprise me if there were patent infringements as well)...
Now all this is not to say I think the whole patent process is all good or that owning a patent is worth more than an excuse to take someone to court... hell, most of the patents accepted in the US aren't worth the paper they are written on (existing prior art, don't work, solve a non problem, etc)... at least they don't allow (obvious) perpetual motion machines!
James...
posted by 69.63.5...
, Thu, 6 Jan 2011 23:03:23
, Fri, 7 Jan 2011 15:31:58, Fri, 7 Jan 2011 16:23:21, Sun, 9 Jan 2011 03:24:46
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