Peter: This doesn't surprise me in the least. Indeed, I expect, with the continuing "weaving together" of the planet by the communications web civilization is creating, that the comment of secrecy, lead time, sales skills, and manufacturing capabilities all ranked higher, will command an even higher tactical position.
After all...to file patents is to grant to the world access to your design constraints/idea. Not to mention it also puts on a clock the 'ol exclusivity clauses. However, with the internet....hell...let's keep it simple and say a few hired guns designated to continually pour over any/all patent filings, it has become remarkable easy to use what is found within national patent databases at manufacturing facilities on other, less legally accessible, areas of the planet. All a conspiring company need do is have a window of a few years, within which they crank out product and garner sufficient market share/profits/earnings/etc.. Then they either fold their tent and go home, or mount a legal "Who......ME?" defense to maximize the stall and continued profits, or they acquiesce for some fraction of what they made.
All of the above have happened in the business world. Does it happen often? Often enough I guess. One could say all's fair in love, war, and business, eh? So, is it any wonder companies are now maximizing the various tactics of secrecy? Particularly the small companies trying to enter an elephant(s) territory? ;-)
John~ |
