[backwoods-engineer]

No one can obtain a valid patent under ‘first to file’ for something that was previously disclosed by public use or publication (other than in the 1 year grace period provided to the original inventor - 35 U.S.C. 102(b)).

Which is why intellectual property publication has become a big business.

[Moltke]

Which is why intellectual property publication has become a big business.

Making something public is as easy as putting it up on a website or somesuch (the announcement board of your local church would serve the same purpose in principle). Basically, close to zero cost. What is the 'big business' angle you refer to?