How to force company to answer question

[Paul]

Hi,

If an inventor invents something, publishes it as open-source, and
then there's chit-chat about a company using technology that appears
to be your technology, then is there a way to force that company to
tell you if they're using your technology?

I asked the company, but all they would say is that I'm more than
welcome to sue them. It seems a bit much to sue a company just to find
out if they're secretly using your technology. IMO it would take that
company maybe 15 seconds to determine if they're using my technology.

I appreciate any replies,
Paul

[Seth]

Post by Paul
If an inventor invents something, publishes it as open-source, and
then there's chit-chat about a company using technology that appears
to be your technology, then is there a way to force that company to
tell you if they're using your technology?

No. Why should they?

Post by Paul
I asked the company, but all they would say is that I'm more than
welcome to sue them.

And over what? If you don't have a patent, they're not violating any
of your rights.

Post by Paul
It seems a bit much to sue a company just to find
out if they're secretly using your technology. IMO it would take that
company maybe 15 seconds to determine if they're using my technology.

If they don't want to tell you (and their competitors), they don't
have to.

For that matter, it would likely be a lot cheaper to buy their product
and disassemble it to see if they're using your technology than to sue
them whether you win or lose.

On the other hand, if you're worried that they _patented_ your idea,
you can do a patent search yourself (or have a patent attorney do one
for you).

Seth