Originally posted by Stevo
1) Because companies like EA and FTDNA work together to define the haplotree, they must agree to share the identity of each SNP--i.e., exactly where it occurs on the Y chromosome. Otherwise, they have no way of knowing whether an SNP found by one company is or is not the same SNP found by another company.
2) The procedure and chemicals (primers) used to test for a given SNP remain a trade secret of each company. Thus, if EA finds a new SNP using a novel procedure or primer, EA does not disclose those to FTDNA. Thus, FTDNA knows where the SNP is but not how to test for it.
3) If the method and apparatus are merely trade secrets, FTDNA is still free to re-discover those by itself. It should actually be able to do so at less effort than EA originally expended, because FTDNA knows precisely what to look for. FTDNA may or may not consider it profitable to do this, though. FTDNA knows that eventually, EA will have to publish its test procedure and primers in a refereed journal in order to gain full industrywide acceptance. At that point, FTDNA can begin testing for the SNP itself.
4) If EA actually patents the method and apparatus required to test for a given SNP, FTDNA cannot copy the procedure and primers even after publication except by purchasing a license from EA. FTDNA could, however, look for a different procedure and primers that would correctly test for the same SNP. That would avoid the license fee.
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