It's a little more difficult than simply "just copying" the technology. The Fingerworks staff had more expertise on the subject than pretty much anybody in the world.

Patents were put in place to discourage trade secrets. In the technology world, trade secrets are not quite as advantageous as they once were.

Somebody else could have developed the FW technology, at a certain cost and time spent. It still makes the FW technology valuable.

> Indeed, FingerWorks probably would never have been founded if it could not have differentiated itself with patented technology.

So by that argument, why do any software companies exist? Last time I checked, I'm getting paid to write software. You're just trying to spread FUD. Nice try.