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From: dgary@ecsvax.UUCP (D Gary Grady)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.physics
Subject: Re: perpet motion - oil companies hiding plans is self-contradictory
Message-ID: <898@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Mar-85 14:52:27 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.898
Posted: Fri Mar 22 14:52:27 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 24-Mar-85 04:50:44 EST
References: <608@vortex.UUCP> <amdcad.835>, <369@oakhill.UUCP>
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Xref: watmath net.misc:7620 net.physics:2290

From davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel) Wed Dec 31 19:00:00 1969
> I've always thought that the ideas about oil companies (or any other business)
> buying up or otherwise hiding ideas or patents which are so potent as to
> revolutionize (and thus undermine) their field of activity is self-contradict-
> ory.
>
> The obvious reason is that if those ideas or patents are so potent, then
> billions of dollars could be had by exploiting them, *not* hiding them!

I agree entirely.  And to add to your scenarios:
 
Irving:  "Wow, Bill, this car will get 120mpg!"
Bill:    "Oh, no!  We'd better supress it!"
Irving:  "But we could make millions at it..."
Bill:    "But if we supress it, we can keep making millions the
	  way we are already!"
Irving:  "Yeah, until somebody else invents it, then we go broke."
Bill:    "EEEK!!  You're right!  Where'd I put that patent
	  attorney?"

-- 
D Gary Grady
Duke U Comp Center, Durham, NC  27706
(919) 684-3695
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