When you ransom the BTC Protocol to advantageously position patented products.
I don't think I understand. Can you give an example -- actual or hypothetical -- of such ransoming?
Patenting hardware and make sure the Protocol is biased towards that hardware.
Patenting some 2nd layer solution and position the protocol to be biased towards that solution.
I suppose this is a normal economic game in open protocol development and there is no easy way to clear the fog on this. In the end, users will vote with their money anyway. But I expect these problems in the future. I have no idea if they are here yet.
I've been swimming on those waters since before the turn of the millennium. Other protocols deal with such issues just fine. As will this one.