Wasted work?...your right....there is no such thing, but of coarse it's a learning experience and a great way to expand and of coarse wishful thinking at best can lead to the "opponents" demise, but that about financial loss. I'm talking about an invention that can lead to a financial gain. lets now say that this once "project" in now a potential money making invention and then you find someone else possibly creating the same, if not just similar, invention. new question: How do you deal with your financial loss?