How would they know if their patent was infringed upon if your software isn't open source? Did you show them the code? Did they hack it or decompile it or whatever? Isn't that against the law?

I am anticipating a similar problem with space-based tethers: I just spent the last two years doing independent unpaid research on manned interstellar travel as a case study for the justificatin of Skyhook Launch Systems -- and last month NASA just awarded $4 million to four American teams to develop the Momentum Exchange Electrodynamic Reboost (MXER) tether concept, which is pretty much the foundation of what my Skyhook is all about. No doubt this money is simply funding patent applications to be filed by the teams as soon as they've done their basic research on the subject. Robert Hoyt of Tethers Unlimited patented his micrometeorite resistant 'fishnet stocking' tether long ago, and will likely be adding more patents to the list soon.

In the space industry where it could be 20 years (if ever) before anyone pays TUI to manufacture something like the Hoy Tether, patents seem like a good way to ensure that long months & years of calculations and simulations eventually pay real money. It should pay money too, because there is little appreciation out there, even derision, for egghead ideas.

On the other hand, someone else might have come up with the idea as well - why shouldn't I make money too? Besides, they are getting millions of dollars before the idea is even made reality!!! Do they have to teach at a university or something? How do they get that kind of research money without giving something back to the community? Tough questions in my mind.