but even before that, the issue was the company either tried to be smarter and game the system by not patenting their methods and calling them trade secrets...

but even before that, the issue was the company either tried to be smarter and game the system by not patenting their methods and calling them trade secrets... or maybe it's a new necessity because of China? i don't know. what matter is that either they had patents and with a former employer or not, they can crush Samsung. or if they tried to be opportunistic and threat it as trade secrets to game patents expirations or need to publish methods... than they should just shut up and lament not paying that guy more.