When I was at IBM (research), they generated a ton of patents.  But they went through a process to decide if something should be patented (tell everyone about it), or just be a trade secret.  They used or licensed these secrets, which seemed to be all about making chips&#x2F; waffers and such.<p>I think the thinking was it would be difficult to figure how they made said thing, once it was out in the public.  If you patent, everyone knows.