[AndyJackson]

My guess is that the ‘secrecy’ is because the ‘technology’ is so simple and could be built in anybodies’ garage with off-the-shelf- parts.

You rely upon trade secrets when you are confident that you can protect your franchise by keeping it secret. If anyone can do it, then your only recourse is to patent it. The way you patent something is that you disclose it, which is what patent means. So, this argument in defense of their secretiveness is total BS.

[Red Badger]

Patents mean nothing these days. The Chinese do not care about patents. Patent infringement cases can take decades to work thru the courts of just one country, much less dozens. The minute the design is published the stealing begins..................

[chaosagent]

My guess is that the ‘secrecy’ is because the ‘technology’ is so simple and could be built in anybodies’ garage with off-the-shelf- parts.

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You rely upon trade secrets when you are confident that you can protect your franchise by keeping it secret. If anyone can do it, then your only recourse is to patent it. The way you patent something is that you disclose it, which is what patent means. So, this argument in defense of their secretiveness is total BS.

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How about this?

What if it turns out that anyone CAN make one in his garage once everyone knows how.

I may be wrong, but I thought that anyone could duplicate a patented item for his own use. He just couldn’t sell it, or make money on it.

If this is so, and everyone starts making them themselves from plans on the Internet, and even making them for friends and family, how does a patent protect Rossi?