I'm starting to wonder if some of the really big boys, the ones that have the most to lose from POET's success, could have, through their chains of financial influence, had something to do with all of this.

For example: Intel.

Think of the institutions and retirement funds that hold Intel... think of the print and screen media that writes about them and receives advertising money from them... the beneficiaries of their corporate philanthropy etc. There are many interests out there vested in POET not succeeding.

Is it implausible that Intel could use its influence to create such unfavorable conditions for POET in the market that they could acquire their IP on the cheap?

I think the movie Tucker, starring Jeff Bridges, can be good reference material for what I'm talking about.