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As I understand it, Lionel stole drawings of the loco designs themselves. If so, they deserve what they got. I don't think it had anything to do with the control system. <br /> <br />The real crime in my opinion is that the US patent office approved these MTH patents. As an engineer, I believe that the technology of speed control and digital sound that these patents protect is obvious and therefore not patentable. This is why I don't thinkg any other inventor has bothered to patent their designs. Unfortunately, now that these patents have been granted, all of the other companies are going to have to either prove that they MTH was not the first to invent the technology or show that the ideas are obvious to anyone skilled in the art. I just don't think patent examiner did his due dilligence to review and understand prior art. Digital speed control of electric motors is a well known technic and its application to model trains, cars, etc. is a natural, obvious progression. <br /> <br />jerry
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