It kind of blows my mind that one (presumably) cannot reverse engineer things like this.
Starlite
11–20 of 75 posts
Re: Starlite
#12It kind of blows my mind that one (presumably) cannot reverse engineer things like this.
Without a sample, it's not surprising.
Re: Starlite
#13What sort of scientific Scrooge chooses to take his invention to the grave like that? What has he gained in the end?
Re: Starlite
#14This would make for a great mystery novel.
Re: Starlite
#15http://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-557... > Mr Ward came to my lab about a year before his death needing help to turn what was essentially a party trick into a useable & commercialy viable product. The problem he had was although the powder component did exactly as it said on the tin, he had found no way of applying a lasting coating. All he really has was some powder mixed with PVA glue, the pr…
> Mr Ward came to my lab about a year before his death > needing help to turn what was essentially a party trick > into a useable & commercialy viable product. So, this person heard a huge, "Whooosh" when Graphene hit the scene too, eh? "It's just Scotch Tape and pencil doodles!" I definitely Want To Believe. World-Changing technology always has its detractors. Remember the airplane? Silly, silly invention.
The quote is incomplete. Right after all that, he says:
>But rest assured, as of this time I can say that there is at least 1 complete & superior product in testing, testing that so far is going remarkably well. So one day there will be a product on the market that will save life's while also having countless other uses. The inspiration behind this project.... Mr Maurice Ward
I'm not sure when this comment was written, but perhaps he was talking about Graphene.
Re: Starlite
#16Sounds like a situation that the patent system was supposedly designed to prevent. But, from the article linked by yapcguy:
> He refused to patent the recipe as that would mean making it public and risking its theft
Wouldn't patenting the formula prevent it from being "stolen"? Or is our patent system truly good for nothing at all?
Re: Starlite
#17Starlite, meet FOGBANK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fogbank
Re: Starlite
#18Starlite, meet FOGBANK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fogbank
In 1996, the US government decided that large numbers of its nuclear weapons would require replacement, refurbishing, or decommissioning. Accordingly, the Department of Energy set up a refurbishment program aimed at extending the service lives of older nuclear weapons. In 2000, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) specified a life-extension program for W76 warheads that would enable them to remain in service until at least 2040.[2]
It was soon realized that the FOGBANK material was a potential source of problems for the program, as few records of its manufacturing process had been retained when it was originally manufactured in the 1980s, and nearly all staff members who had expertise in its production had either retired or left the agency. The NNSA briefly investigated sourcing a substitute for FOGBANK, but eventually decided that since FOGBANK had been produced previously, they would be able to repeat it.[2] Additionally, "Los Alamos computer simulations at that time were not sophisticated enough to determine conclusively that an alternate material would function as effectively as Fogbank," according to a Los Alamos publication.[3]
Re: Starlite
#19Sounds like a situation that the patent system was supposedly designed to prevent. But, from the article linked by yapcguy: > He refused to patent the recipe as that would mean making it public and risking its theft Wouldn't patenting the formula prevent it from being "stolen"? Or is our patent system truly good for nothing at all?
SpaceX does not patent any of their stuff for the same reason; it can be stolen by people outside of the country and the patent is essentially directions on how to do so.
Re: Starlite
#20Sounds like a situation that the patent system was supposedly designed to prevent. But, from the article linked by yapcguy: > He refused to patent the recipe as that would mean making it public and risking its theft Wouldn't patenting the formula prevent it from being "stolen"? Or is our patent system truly good for nothing at all?
Depends who's doing the stealing. If you patent something, someone else can read the patent. Then they learn what you are doing. From there, they can either find a way around what you patented, seek licensing from you, or blatantly copy you. If they copy you or go around what you are doing, you can sue them (provided they are in the country you filed the patent in).