Re: Nikon Busted For Industrial Espionage!

On May 10, 8:28 am, "Rita Berkowitz" <ritaberk2...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Nikon was caught stealing lens design and manufacturing techniques from
> Canon and incor****ating them into their latest lenses.  After conclusive
> tests it has been determined that Nikon is using the same formula for
their
> space age material as Canon.  Even little subtleties in the lens mount
have
> been stolen from Canon.  This is going to be a major blemish on Nikon's
> reputation.
>
>
<http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1021&thread=2784...>
>
> Rita
> --
> Stamping out Internet stupidity one idiot at a time.  Never empower the
> idiot, embrace it and stimulate it.  For more details go to the Usenet
> Stimulus Project page.
>
> http://ritaberk.myhosting247.com

Maybe this is all a sign of evolution of patent laws. In the past it
was much more common for lens designs to be generic.  It used to be
one had to have NOVEL designs to get a patent.  Now, the patent
agencies are more and more letting the courts determine whether
something is novel or not.  I don't believe juries or judges are best
qualified to determine whether a design is just standard engineering
practice, or is really novel and advancing the state of the art.

I DO think there has been tremendous advances in lens design,
materials,  and manufacture, but it has been much more a case of
evolution than revolution.