Re-trade secrets

--Shiva--

To summerize it of others.... It's not a trade secret once someone figures it out withnout using "improper means". Reverse engineering and accidently disclosing a trade secret are considered proper means.

Makes sense to me.

Daniel

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While we are on the subject of trade secrets, I would like to expand it = to patents. The US Patent office today does not check the claims against = old patents. They just grant the patent and then let the company defend = it. Folks these so called patents that are out there for cylind3er locks = really smell fishy to me, because they take advantage of warding (at = least 1200 years old). Oh well, I'm probably wrong, but thats the way I feel about it. Check out Medeco V. Al Levy of Guarantee Lock in an import case, around =

Regarding your comments on patents granted today you are sadly mistaken. The patent office does indeed check new applications against ALL old art, foreign and domestic. I the holder of two patents that have issued in the last year I do know what I am talking about. I have answered quite a few Office Actions. You can also look at the patents examined by pulling up those listed in the newly issued patent. BBE.

Hey Billy.. one has to REALLY wonder sometimes I got a lot of clearly stamped 'made in China' door knobs in once to rekey, and they looked to be EXACT copies of a Kwikset Tylo knob. Everything except the KW name on the latch. parts fit between it and a real KW, BUT, there were metal differences, different coloring, or sharper corners between the knock off and the KW if you compared pieces. The basic shape was exact tho... --Shiva--

one has to REALLY wonder sometimes

I don't think that is much of a surprise, when the patents expire anyone can make a copy. The Chinese have made a habit of knocking off popular designs. About the only thing that changes in a Kwikset Tylo is the latch design. (Tending to be made cheaper and more likely to fail.) So I doubt that there is much that is protected by patent, and the trademark protection I believe only extends to the use of the name Kwikset and the style consideration of the blank itself.