RE:RE:PatentRe: "Patents are pieces of paper. Doing something with them cost money"
True.. However, when anyone wants to use the AMI process for recycling batteries, they'll need to contact AMI first. This is when AMI can charge fees for useage licence(s).
I/E: >5 companies could build their own style recycling plants (different front-end interfaces), and each could use AMI's pattented recycling process (same core mechanics).
My guess is such licencing fees will most likely be geared for a duration (yearly), or perhaps even a on a volume of output (though production accountability would eed to be transparrent).
All IMO..
Sky