I guess we're taking different viewpoints on this. I'm considering the ability of a new player to protect and exploit their invention (defensive), whereas you'

I guess we're taking different viewpoints on this. I'm considering the ability of a new player to protect and exploit their invention (defensive), whereas you're thinking of an existing player using the same system to prevent others encroaching on their market (offensive). Both are valid. I'm not disagreeing with your argument. I'm specifically disagreeing with the fourth paragraph of the top post. It presumes that everything is already 'invented', which I disagree with. What he/she is really saying is that 'whoever has the most lawyers will win'. It's not even about IP law at that point. Edit: Yes, the way things work now IP can simply work as ammunition for BigCo. However, even if we did away with it, BigCo's boots/fists/whatever are still bigger than yours (so the "Without patents" part does not hold up).