[redgolum]

Of course! Patents are good because they
1. Protect the original inventor for a limited time.
2. Put that invention or innovation out in the public domain.

We have moved to trade secrets, instead of patents, because we don’t want to spend the money fighting our competitors. They have done the same.

[1010RD]

Patents for a limited time. Copyright extensions are abominable. Plus, moving to ‘trade secrets’ is a guildification of American innovation. That lead to the economic slowdown of post-Rome Europe.

Remember we live in a world of lost knowledge. The entire IP system in America needs a re-balance in favor of innovation. Right now the beneficiaries are the Big Boys aka Crony Capitalists.

[Moltke]

Thanks for that clarification, which is a true statement of the principle underlying the whole ‘patent’ concept - you give (information published after the application) and you receive (exclusivity for a limited time). I might add that patent publications also serve to prevent wasteful spending to develop something that has already been invented.

If your business is able to retain its innovation by the way of trade secrets - good for you. Many inventions are not conducive to that strategy because they are easily recognized in the marketed product - hence the need for patent protection.