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If you think this is evil you want to see how patents are handled in the defense industry. Company A copies company B's idea straight from the patent, company

If you think this is evil you want to see how patents are handled in the defense industry. Company A copies company B's idea straight from the patent, company B finds out and confronts company A, company B gets a call from the government (who are buying the product from company A) saying "cease or we stop contract X with you". That leaves company B to fight in a foreign market only which is why you see a lot of defense products sold overseas only... Lawyers don't even get a look in. Edit: just to add, yes this is illegal but try going up against the government after you've signed various secret development agreements with them. Occasionally these things do go to court but you don't see it as they are sealed.

bellerocky 12y ago
> company B gets a call from the government (who are buying the product from company A) saying "cease or we stop contract X with you". I'm pretty sure that's illegal, at least in developed countries. I'd record that call and leak it to the press or something, see how that works out for them. Government agents unduly threatening retribution for lawful disputes between private companies is probably a small scandal.
- pyre 12y ago
  I remember reading an article/blogpost about a specific instance that was related to technology that could be used to tap underwater fiber optic lines. The company with the patent wasn't a government contractor. They ended up in a situation where a big government contractor got to benefit from the fruits of their innovation, while the government basically said, "f*ck off."