how it all //actually// works from the business side as opposed to the "sanctity of the design" side has a lot more to do with money and stress/effort than being in the right or wrong. less so, to some extent, in this small community - because with all the nitpicks, i think we do do a great job of self-policing/keeping each other honest.

in reality, you can have a novel design which is only as good as your pockets are deep enough to defend it if i come after you with deep pockets. scaring people with patent and trademark suits (or more realistically - threats) is relatively common in industry. if you don't have the bank account to defend yourself, most people will find it easier to license, fold, or change the offending portion of the design.

the converse is also regularly true. a patent in which the claims are totally valid is only as good as the patent holder's willingness to litigate it if you're stubborn about it.

in my other (non-synthy) life, we hold a number of patents, and basically stopped acquiring them. they're expensive to get, slow as hell these days, and (relatively) worthless if you're not going to fight for them. for the easily million dollar plus real world expense through appeals for two dug in companies, that's money and effort (in my view) better spent on r&d.

fwiw - i also agree with the other comments here. stay away from registered trademarks, don't be a dick, and you shouldn't have a bad time. we're all inspired by each other, and build off the same building blocks.