[sdiy] Patents

[harrybissell]

John L Marshall wrote:

> With my three patents and $3 I can get an espresso at Starbucks.

> That is SO sad...  if we meet I'll buy you a coffee  :^P

(yeah I hear THAT !!!)

I was breifly involved in a patent war... only the competitor (who I probably
could
have proved 'appropriated' our design)... bought us.

I told them "You STOLE it from me... the day after I demo'd it to the
customer...
your quote dropped FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS"...

to which my new boss replied "and how did you know THAT ???"

obvious moral...  if a customer will tell you the competitor's price, he will
also
detail YOUR secrets.  May such rot in hell...

oh sh!t did i send that e-mail ?  (he's still a customer, btw... but I don't
tell him sh!t anymore)

lesson two learned.  Do not make the method OBVIOUS to the naked eye.  He
just had to say...
it was powered by a nine volt battery, and the competition could EASILY
surmise that what was
believed to be impossible on Monday was quite possible on Tuesday.

H^) harry   (I really WAS serious about the Coffee :^)