Well, some ideas are commercially sensitive, and it wouldn't be fair for the originator of an idea to see someone else profit from its execution and development without appropriate compensation.

The Patent systems across the globe already protect the originators.

If someone wants his idea to be a secret, then he will not publish it in this blog. It is as simple as that.

As I said, the originator should inform people if his presented idea is a "patent" (hence it is prohibited by anyone to use his idea without his permission) or if it is for "free use". Alternatively, only "ideas for free use" (i.e. not patended) could be presented in this blog.

In practice, it will be proven that the vast majority of these ideas will be just "small" ideas, i.e. not for commercial exploitation as "stand alone" ideas (and not worthy to be patented). For example, there will be small electronic and electrical circuits or small mechanical assemblies (that could be used by anyone in his project/design/application)... Or someone could find there a smart method to do this or that... It is a free exchange of ideas (as the genaral purpose of CR4 is).

Over the years on the Forum there have been attempts to cause similar sorts of arrangements utilizing the Forum. Ky's Blog thread "Favorite Inventions", comes to mind.

The Sustainable Engineering Blog was spawned of similar compulsions.

CR4 does not seem actually to have this sort of concept as part of its mission, at least in any sort of formal way.

There are plenty of free designs on the net including Guitar amps.

Just a question to the CR4 administrators: in the "CR4 daily digest" that I received on 3/11/09 & 4/11/09 I didn't see this forum thread... Why???...

Trade Secrets are very important in my company.