Can Algos and/or ASICs be patented ?

[SpceGhst]

How do big companies protect their software and hardware then ? That too at an international level.

Big companies have their own legal departments that file the correct paperwork in every country where they want to do business.

Most of your questions could be answered by calling a patent attorney in your area.

[electronicash]

You can probably patent the design of an ASIC chip or machine, but software put on it would need to be copyrighted.  I don’t know if you can copyright open source software that anyone can compile.  On top of that, any patent or copyright is only as strong as the country where it is filed.  (I am not an attorney, so don’t consider this legal advice.)

i think so. linux software is an opensource but RED hat enterprise solely made it to be their own. open source doesn't mean anyone can edit and has to give it back to the community but a company can edit it and simply made it for their proprietary. but I could be wrong though.

[markiz73]

How do big companies protect their software and hardware then ? That too at an international level.

Every big company has offices in countries where it sells its products. Protection of interests takes place according to the legislation of each country.

[Agozyen]

Can a algorithm be patented ? What about ASICs ? Can Bitmain patent a particular ASIC so that others can't manufacturer an asic for a particular algo without licence from patent holder ?

 Yes and no.

 Anyone can create an ASIC.  Most ASIC manufacturers use chips and components from other vendors.  The only way Bitmain could patent their ASICs and benefit from it is if they developed the chip themselves and didn't license it to anyone else.  If this chip warranted a patent then it the answer is yes.  This scenario only works though if only their ASIC could run a particular algorithm. 

 However, if they buy the chips from someone else they still may be able to patent their ASIC, but that would not prevent other companies from buying the same chip and making their own. 

 It would not be in anyone best interests to let a single entity control an algorithm and the hardware that hashes it.  I think you would find that no one would buy it.

[gameboy366]

Can a algorithm be patented ? What about ASICs ? Can Bitmain patent a particular ASIC so that others can't manufacturer an asic for a particular algo without licence from patent holder ?

 Yes and no.

 Anyone can create an ASIC.  Most ASIC manufacturers use chips and components from other vendors.  The only way Bitmain could patent their ASICs and benefit from it is if they developed the chip themselves and didn't license it to anyone else.  If this chip warranted a patent then it the answer is yes.  This scenario only works though if only their ASIC could run a particular algorithm. 

 However, if they buy the chips from someone else they still may be able to patent their ASIC, but that would not prevent other companies from buying the same chip and making their own. 

 It would not be in anyone best interests to let a single entity control an algorithm and the hardware that hashes it.  I think you would find that no one would buy it.

The reality is quite different. The most centralised cryptocurrency has the highest market capital and volume. Also it is mined by patented ASICs only. Just look at how powerful Bitmain has become. If what you say was true then this would have not happened.