I have 2 things I find funny here.
1) It definitely screws over the companies that have poured a massive amount of time and effort into their R&D at first. This is done by providing the new guy with all your secrets; this just isn't done anywhere.
So I don't know why BDPL, thinks it needs to be implemented in this environment specifically to "democratize" blockchain technology.

Really though at a certain point your trade secrets are stolen on the first models that ship to the world. It's tore down and reverse engineered and changed just enough to avoid a lawsuit.

2) In the end this up and coming company then proceeds to strive for continual improvement investing their funds into R&D. Now the older companies can effectively sit on their heels and let the new patents pour in. It's not a great long term strategy but if someone else is going to put in the work and you already have the "Brand power" to coast why wouldn't you.
This is the outcome I would expect from the given example of a company choosing to leave; as opposed to them paying to use Patents they didn't deem worthy on the off chance the next development is better.

Overall short term it's a no brainer for Halong to pledge their patents; access to all those secrets for the cost of only a few words.

Much like communism being great in theory; this is an idea that on paper seems great but is a legal and logistical nightmare that isn't worth the headache for larger established companies.
The best case scenario for this project would be the smaller ASIC producers joining, and thus helping themselves push advancements and creating their own "Brand Power" to chisel more of the market share in their favor.

Thanks for the new topics to read up on gave me something to do this evening.