On 3/29/2010 5:10 PM, Rick Jones wrote:

Well, if the information is actually public, is it really industrial
espionage?

The reason it is public is so that someone who has had their invention
stolen can use their patent to prove wrongdoing, or others working along
the same lines can avoid unintentionally using someone else's already
patented ideas.
The Chinese don't give a hoot in hell about the legal aspects of copying
things without permission (right down to their names in the case of
vehicles), so to them, having all the patent on-line in a easily
searchable form is a real boon.

As for better ways of making Pot Ash, I would think that would await
the success of the legalization initiative in California

I still can't believe that they are actually considering that.

Pat