I tend to agree and I believe Joe is on the right track. I thought his comment, "patents only give the right to sue" perceptive. And I have known several companies that have filed first and have lost their patent or are in the process of loosing it because of some of the reasons Joe mentions (e.g., RMTR loosing FRAM to National Semi). That ad on TV about Alexander G Bell filing first is not how things work. And Patent disputes are long processes and are sometimes settled by one company buying the other out (e.g., INTC bot the rights of Alpha from DEC) etc.
While patents are an important part of business, getting there first (e.g., Tues trial) will go a long way in securing BAAT's technology. No one else has acomplished this feat in a public demonstration and it will make their claims appear all the more truthful.
You know, T Edison had to build 98 light bulbs before he got it to work. Later, when asked about his patent, he said, I know 97 ways it doesn't work". A lot of that applies here. Filing every step of the would have muddied the water as well as tip a lot of wantabees off. As a infamous president once said, "Let's get it right before we tell the people".
I'm glad to see this debate on BAT, this is how we sort things out. This little testing period we are in will either help sustain the technology or make it forgotten quickly. I can't help recalling the hoopla in the scientific community and then the press when Ponds and Flieshman (I believe that was their names) came out with their theories on cold fusion. After they were turned every which way but loose, It was decided it didn't work and they were quickly forgotten.
Personally, I'd like to see BAT win one for the Gipper. If they are right, it doesn't say much for the Big 3 except they have become placent in their thinking. And with El Nino brewing off the West Coast, I believe it is time for a breath of fresh air. Joe, the lone retired engineer/inventor is what America is all about. |
