>http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0Z61GM

I wonder how much luck he will have getting patents.  My impression is that under European law, patents cannot be granted if disclosure of the invention has preceded the filing; American law used to, and may still, allow disclosure up to one year before filing for the patents.  Since Bitcoin is well over 6 years old, perhaps it will be considered 'disclosed' already.

           Jim Bell