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Craig, The purpose of patent law is not the single issue of public disclosure. It has several purposes, all of which are intended for the pubic good. My point is that one of those purposes is to stimulate the invention process by providing the inventor the exclusive ownership of the invention for a period of time. This is not a trivial function of patents. Whether it is as significant a function as public disclosure of the invention "secrets" is a matter for theological debate. But today, the stimulus factor is VERY non-trivial. Most every feature of modern computers were invented with the expectation that patents would protect the profits of the patent owner. There are companies that do nothing except invent and sell inventions. They produce nothing but ideas and patents! Obviously these companies would not exist without patent law. As for the compensation of computer engineers, if you think that we are paid like gods, then I will keep looking for another religion. I don't know any computer related workers that are anything other than middle class economically. Other than in Silicon Valley maybe, you can't even break into six digit saleries! I know plumbers that make as much money. But maybe I should be sending your company a resume rather than debating this point? ;) Rick Collins