You can sign advisors up to non-disclosure agreements, for 20 years, and prevent them from using the technology for their own commercial gain. This is done all the time. Many new technologies are analyzed prior to receiving a patent. So this is a red herring, and the fact that the patent office does not issue cold fusion patents means these ECAT Cats will have to do something a little more creative.
This is an easy problem to get around. The IP argument is a joke. It is making energy from nothing which is their biggest hurdle.
Unless, of course, the "non-disclosure/non-use" party's lawyer finds a loophole. If you believe that such agreements are "air-tight", then more fool you. We had a VERY good lawyer write it. The opposing attorney STILL found a way around.
So this is a red herring, and the fact that the patent office does not issue cold fusion patents means these ECAT Cats will have to do something a little more creative.
Which is precisely what Rossi is doing. It's called "trade secret".
"This is an easy problem to get around. The IP argument is a joke.
Still can't agree with that. My direct experience says otherwise. We HAD an issued patent, and non-disclosure/non-use, and our "partner" STILL managed to weasel around both.
"It is making energy from nothing which is their biggest hurdle."
Bit of prejudice there??? I don't think any of the CF/LENR/LANR researchers consider their work "making energy from nothing".