It's only an issue because the original "sidestepper" sold-off, or was perhaps bullied into selling (theory), the patent to an entity. An entity that will unfortunately just hold it in a "bag of tricks" until they need it, or decide to play with it, or decide to litigate with, or decide to "license" out usage of it to another big player willing to fork over money for it.
Had an innovative tinkerer kept it, then who knows what might have happened. But I'd take a wild guess and say that the odds are more likely that a such an innovator would allow others the use/play/profit off of their novel ideas than would a large entity that sees it as a potential avenue of competition.
Had an innovative tinkerer kept it, then who knows what might have happened. But I'd take a wild guess and say that the odds are more likely that a such an innovator would allow others the use/play/profit off of their novel ideas than would a large entity that sees it as a potential avenue of competition.