An article in the New York Times (August 20) talks about Nespresso and its rivals and their legal struggles. Nespresso’s coffee machines generate profits through sales of the coffee pods. Rivals are trying to create generic versions of these coffee pods. Nespresso’s IP runs out in 2012.

The question – can creating a modular product where profits come from sale of “cartridges” – be sustainable ? How much legal protection is available against innovators who choose alternate designs – and could such innovation destroy the viability of such designs ?

Your thoughts ?.