Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteTiger
So if that is the right formula then, someone could grab it, patent it, and charge Coke to use it? That sounds like a loophole they would have closed somehow? I don't know much how patenting works, though.
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Couldn't patent it, no - it's not novel now that it's out there in the world.
Coke's benefit in failing to patent it is that they don't have to reveal the formula (which they'd have to if they did patent it). They'd only have the benefit of the patent for a certain time before it expired and anyone could make their product.
By keeping it a family secret, they can protect the formula indefinitely. That is, until it is revealed or found out.
They've had a pretty good run.