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@Archie's_Grobags
No. They weren't really thinking about anything like patents back then.
Doc started out making the brakes in his appartment with a drill and saw etc. He used to use a phonebook as a workbench.
They were rough as hell.
They got quite a reputation amongst trials riders, which is what Doc was into at the time. He was a grundig world cup champion.
Then he hooked up with Joe who already had his machine shop, and the rest is history.
Couple of years later Shimano and others started making v brakes.
They weren't bothered though, they were just doing their own thing really. They always have.