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      01-14-2016, 08:47 AM   #38
backhill
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Drives: F80 M3 & 2015 Sierra HD
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: MI

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Quote:
Originally Posted by PrematureApex View Post
Is this a serious post?

If the cars are displayed at a damn auto show, even in a pre/press only event, anything visible is not a trade secret, but its very definition. In fact, by not actively preventing people from looking at their displays, they are forfeiting the right to claim it's a trade secret. The cars are sitting there for public display (that includes members of the press). It's all fair game.

I'm sorry, but when you copied and pasted the definition of "industrial espionage", did you happen to take the time to read it?
Hahaha this. This is a public event. You can do what you want. This isn't espionage. Most automakers were more or less aware of their competitions latest and greatest years prior to the final products at an auto show.

Once the cars go to the public for sale, you bet your ass every manufacturer buy's competitors cars and reverse engineers them. There is nothing illegal about this as long as your design is outside of any patents, which is fairly easy to get around.

http://www.wired.com/2014/07/go-insi...petitors-cars/

Not only that, but automotive parts suppliers are, most of the time, very willing to share things they are working on and designing that are being offered to competitors. They want their product in everyone's hands, not just a few select brands. It's how they make money.

In terms of patents, the supplier providing manufacturers usually holds that crystal ball and is willing to sell them to anyone else willing to buy. The amount of automotive parts that are interchangeable between car lines, car brands, and manufacturers is immense. Obviously the final product is different, but I've heard rumors that the new electircal power steering on the M4 is interchangeable with the ATS-V.
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