For a patent to be successful, the invention needs to be novel and not thought of before. If someone applies for a patent threatening technology that is already being used, it should be a simple matter to blast it out of the water with a simple objection.
I say 'should be' because unfortunately, money talks. Big money shouts and sometimes 'deafens' ears to what is just. Didn't JP Morgan, or some other big banking organisation try this on some time ago?
Companies with more money than sense file Patents all of the time because their overpaid lawyers need something to prove they are needed.

Their Lawyers claim it as a way to protect themselves in case, someone else sues them for using it.
But Every Country has it's own Patent system, so just because someone gets a patent approved in the US, has
0 effects on any other country.
