I think the point is that, when something novel is invented, two routes can be taken:
Patent: Protection from competition for a limited time, in exchange for disclosing the methods of the invention.
Trade secret: Keep things on lock, and make money on it until someone else figures it out for themselves.
This is why things like "pinch zoom" and about 5m other shitty patents are so absurd: There's very little "novel" about most software patents. And these people are making really broad claims, and doing nothing with them, for the sake of litigation. It's a mockery of the intention of the office.
Patent: Protection from competition for a limited time, in exchange for disclosing the methods of the invention.
Trade secret: Keep things on lock, and make money on it until someone else figures it out for themselves.
This is why things like "pinch zoom" and about 5m other shitty patents are so absurd: There's very little "novel" about most software patents. And these people are making really broad claims, and doing nothing with them, for the sake of litigation. It's a mockery of the intention of the office.