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Bowden Cable
From WikiPedalia
The type of concentric cable used for brakes and gears was once known by the term "Bowden cables", after its inventor.
There was a famous legal case arising from Bowden's cables. He licensed many manufacturers to make cables based on his patent, but failed to exercise quality control over the licensed products that bore his name. As a result, the patent and trademark were deemed to have been abandoned, and became public domain. (I am not a lawyer, I heard this from a lawyer some time ago, I don't vouch for the accuracy of the legal information...)
