[Ferro List] To patent or not to patent

[Uwe Brunjes]

Hi Keith,
The legal situation in Mexico is basically the same, but that's not my worry anyway. According to what Roy and many others have told me, if a powerful industry wants to use your invention without your consent, they will! You might eventually win the law suit, but they'll appeal. You might even win the appeal, but they still won't pay. If you ever make them pay, by that time you might have spent much more time, energy, health and money (supposing you have all that) than what the whole deal is worth for you. So why bother? It looks like in real life Patent Law has been derogated and those with enough power do as they wish. Reminds me of the situation where a hero continues alive as long as the coward doesn't backstab him.
Or is there a fool-proof way to protect your intellectual property? The only possible protection that comes to my mind is showing them (not bluffing) that you are "powerful", too, in a way. That could be for example your ability to give them a real bad name for being so crooked (stealing your invention) and consequently making them lose business. They all understand this "language"! But other than this indirect approach, I can't see anything. - Something I overlooked?
Uwe